Drivers heading from the north toward Luxembourg City on the A7 are facing delays after ventilation issues were discovered in the Grouft and Stafelter tunnels. Until further notice, speed limits in both tunnels have been reduced to 70 km/h and one lane in each tunnel has been closed.
The measures were introduced after maintenance checks revealed unexpected wear to the ventilation systems. According to Roland Fox, director of the National Roads Administration, a risk assessment showed that safety levels in the event of a fire could no longer be fully guaranteed without reducing traffic flow.
Around 27,000 vehicles use the A7 every day, meaning a significant number of motorists are likely to be affected.
For safety reasons, the work cannot be carried out outside peak hours, including at night, as the risk of accidents must be kept as low as possible at all times, Fox explained in conversation with RTL. He also said the issue could not have been anticipated, calling the observed type of wear “unforeseeable”.
However, he stressed that the regular six-monthly maintenance programme, during which all tunnel equipment is tested, allowed the problem to be detected early. This early discovery may in return have prevented a more serious disruption, Fox argued, noting that the tunnels could have had to close completely at a later stage.
At present, The Roads Administration cannot say how long the restrictions will remain in place. The affected ventilation components are custom-made rather than standard parts, meaning they must first be ordered and manufactured before repairs or replacements can be completed.
Until then, the current measures will remain in force for an indefinite period.
