© RTL
Kanfen’s proximity to Luxembourg has brought new families, businesses, and prosperity, but also gridlock and frustration.
The French municipality of Kanfen, located between the Luxembourg border and the A31 motorway, finds itself both benefiting from, and suffering because of its proximity to the Grand Duchy.
Home to around 1,200 residents, Kanfen has seen demographic growth driven by the arrival of new cross-border workers with high purchasing power. The village has evolved accordingly, with new shops opening and two micro-crèches, as well as nursery and primary schools, now serving the community.
But life close to Luxembourg also comes with drawbacks, and the biggest challenge for Kanfen is traffic. When the A31 becomes congested, many motorists seek alternative routes, often cutting directly through the village.
Many locals are therefore pinning their hopes on the long-awaited A31project. Yet unlike in Luxembourg, where the A3 is currently being widened, progress on the French side has been slow. Mayor Denis Baur doubts that the expansion will truly solve the problem. The project has been under discussion for a decade, he notes, and "no longer meets current expectations or needs."
Another certainty is that the upgraded motorway will come with a toll. Once the A31 is expanded to three lanes in each direction, drivers will have to pay to use it – a measure that could push even more traffic onto local roads.
For now, that scenario remains hypothetical. Construction on the A31 is not expected to begin before 2030.
