© Marc Hoscheid / Archives
Diekirch's town centre is set for a major overhaul with the "Nei Dikrech" project, and early input from residents highlights their hopes and concerns for the future of the area.
The "Al Dikrech" town fair is a familiar event to many across Luxembourg, but the "Nei Dikrech" ("New Diekirch") project may be less well-known. This initiative involves the redesign of Grand Rue and the town's central area. On Tuesday evening, initial findings from a citizen participation process were shared at the Old Brewery.
Despite it being held in the middle of the week, the turnout for the information session was decent, though not all seats were filled. Since April, when an introductory session for the Nei Dikrech project was first held, local residents have had several opportunities to provide feedback. A total of 665 people participated in an online survey, and workshops and guided tours of the town centre were organised to gather further input.
The analysis of these contributions showed that while residents generally have a positive view of the town centre and feel connected to their community, there is room for improvement in certain areas, including cycling accessibility, public restroom facilities, parking availability, and housing prices. In total, 52 ideas were selected for further development.
Luc Wagner, from the Esch-sur-Alzette-based architecture firm overseeing the project, outlined the next steps. These ideas will inform the terms of reference for a landscape architecture competition, where three or four teams will compete to integrate the suggestions into their designs. A jury will evaluate the proposals, though the exact members of the jury have yet to be confirmed. It is certain, however, that the jury will include both political and administrative representatives, as well as experts in urban planning, who will make up the majority.
Our colleagues from RTL Radio spoke with attendees, and feedback was largely positive. One resident expressed satisfaction, believing that the ideas and concerns raised by the community were genuinely considered in the planning process.
The resident noted her support for the process, explaining that "architects always see the big picture, and sometimes it's the small details noticed by locals that make a difference." As an example, she mentioned small areas where the community might like to see playgrounds for children or a few spaces where parents can gather.
An important point of contact for those managing the project will be local business owners. The owner of a bookstore expressed her hope that the redesign of the town centre will have a positive impact on commerce. She stated that the most exciting aspect for her is that Diekirch "is going to become more beautiful, greener, with more places to spend time." She believes that the increased quality of life will have a ripple effect on everything else, including local businesses. She even hopes that the changes will encourage the opening of new shops.
However, some residents have expressed doubts and raised questions following the presentation. One major concern revolves around the project's traffic calming measures in the town centre, which depend on the planned nearby bypass becoming operational. Nei Dikrech is set to be completed by 2030 at the latest, but some are sceptical about whether this is a realistic timeline for the bypass to be finished. Diekirch Mayor Charel Weiler emphasised that he "cannot say today when the bypass will be completed," but assured that the government remains committed to the project as it was outlined in meetings.
Weiler also mentioned that the municipality is pleased that a bypass for Diekirch is at least planned. Part of Nei Dikrech involves the renewal of the underground infrastructure within the pedestrian zone, and currently, a study with an engineering firm is underway. The results are expected by mid-2025, and the construction will proceed in phases to minimise disruption for local businesses. For example, the redevelopment of Place de la Libération will not take place during the summer months.
As part of the Nei Dikrech project, there is also a plan to create a historical circuit that will better connect the various small squares in the town centre, further enhancing accessibility and aesthetics.
