RTL Today - Amended regulation: Lorries allowed to drive on Luxembourgish motorways on Sundays

Exceptional circumstances call for exceptional measures. Since this Sunday, lorries, which are typically banned from using Luxembourg's motorways on Sundays and public holidays, have been allowed to travel freely. This change will remain in effect until March 2025.

For 27 years, Sundays in Luxembourg have been synonymous with quieter roads, thanks to a regulation prohibiting lorries over 7.5 tonnes from traveling unless headed to Luxembourg itself.

The Grand Ducal regulation, introduced on 19 July 1997, bans lorries from passing through the country. Lorries passing through on their way to France, for example, may not travel between 9.30pm on Saturday evening and 9.45pm on Sunday.

As of this Sunday, however, all lorries have been granted permission to travel on major motorways, such as the A1, A3, A4, A6, A7, and A13. This change follows a decision by the Government Council to temporarily suspend the 1997 regulation for "three months, with the option for renewal once."

The adjustment comes in response to the closure of the Müden lock on the Moselle River after a boat accident damaged it on 8 December 2024. With upstream river traffic from Luxembourg now halted, millions of tonnes of goods that would typically be shipped by boat must instead be transported by road.

The Ministry of State has estimated that repairs on the lock could last until the end of March 2025, but recent updates from Germany’s Ministry of Mobility suggest the lock could reopen as early as 1 February 2025. Despite this optimistic timeline, experts warn that repairs may still take until spring.

The economic impact of the lock's closure has been significant, with losses nearing €100 million for industries like steel, food production, and oil. Meanwhile, the government’s temporary measure aims to alleviate logistical pressures until the situation is resolved.