© Domingos Oliveira / RTL
As part of the construction of a new railway line, the Luxembourg National Railway Company (CFL) will shift a railway bridge over the A3 on Friday night. Disruptions on the A3 are expected from "late afternoon".
The bridge, which is one of Europe's largest bowstring bridges, was completed in January 2022. CFL previously announced that the bridge of the future Luxembourg City – Bettembourg line will be moved "at the end of 2022". That is to say, at the very beginning of this weekend.
The delicate operation of launching the imposing metal structure over Luxembourg's busiest motorway will take place during the night of Friday to Saturday, at around 1am.
© Domingos Oliveira / RTL
For this purpose, the Bridges and Roads Authority will completely close the A3 between Croix de Gasperich and Croix de Bettembourg. The Authority will also use this opportunity to extend the motorway to 2x3 lanes while simultaneously carrying out maintenance work.
Because of the preparatory works for the closure of the motorway a few hours before the major event, "traffic disruptions are expected in the late afternoon" on Friday, according to the Bridges and Roads Authority.
The A3 will be closed between Croix de Bettembourg and Croix de Gasperich in the direction of France – Luxembourg from 8pm on Friday until around 6am on Monday. The slip roads to Croix de Bettembourg and the Livange interchange will also be closed.
At around 10pm, the A3 will be closed in the direction of Luxembourg – France, still between the two motorway junctions. Motorway traffic will be diverted in both directions via the A13, A4, and A6 motorways.
A behemoth of 5,850 tonnes
Called "OA 14", the 200-metre long and 18.5-metre-wide structure points very high into the sky. Its arch spire reaches 40 metres from the underside of the deck to the highest point of the upper arch.
The bridge, which will carry the two new tracks of the planned Luxembourg City – Bettembourg line, weighs no less than 5,850 tonnes with the deck but without the concrete for the time being.
To carry out the shifting operation, the bridge has already been gradually lifted by hydraulic presses by around 30 cm each day for several days, at the level of the landings.
Special vehicles (KAMAG) will bring the bridge into its final position and align it with the bridge pier on the other side of the motorway. CFL expects to complete this major feat of strength over the future six-lane motorway in less than two hours. The bridge will then "sit" five metres above the road.
Aire de Berchem partially inaccessible
The Shell petrol station at the Berchem service station will be closed from 6pm on Friday until roughly 6am on Monday.
The Aral petrol station at Aire de Berchem will be closed from 8pm on Friday until 6am on Monday.
