© Domingos Oliveira / RTL
Nearly three years after work began, the A3 motorway widening project is nearing a milestone, but winter weather threatens to delay the long-anticipated opening of the first section.
Progress on widening the A3 motorway is advancing steadily, with the first section between Croix de Gasperich and Aire de Berchem expected to fully open to traffic before the end of 2024 – at least in theory. However, weather conditions could potentially delay these plans.
Work on the project began nearly three years ago, on 18 January 2022, with initial preparations and embankment clearances. The construction has tested the patience of cross-border workers from France who rely on the route daily to travel to Luxembourg.
As the year-end approaches, the first segment of the extensive project – widening the 12-kilometre stretch of motorway from the Franco-Luxembourg border to Croix de Gasperich – is nearing completion. The penultimate phase started on Monday, 10 November, when traffic was diverted onto the upbound side (Croix de Gasperich to Aire de Berchem) to allow work to begin on the opposite carriageway.
This stage involves removing the old road surface and laying a new layer across the three-lane downbound carriageway. Around 4,750 tonnes of bitumen will be used to resurface the 3.5-kilometre section between Aire de Berchem and Croix de Gasperich.
While the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works reaffirmed in October that the widened section would be completed by the end of 2024, uncertainty remains as the deadline approaches. The National Roads Authority, when asked by our colleagues from RTL Infos, declined to confirm a precise opening date, citing the possibility of delays into early 2025.
The final steps depend not only on manpower and technology but also on favourable weather. Although the upbound lanes towards France are complete, finishing the downbound section requires dry conditions and temperatures of at least 5°C to allow the road markings to adhere properly. Additionally, roads treated with salt cannot be marked, adding another layer of complexity as winter approaches.
Read also:
End of the tunnel: First section of widened A3 to open by 'end of 2024'
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French border traffic: A3 motorway to be expanded to three lanes by 2030
