Local officials gathered on Friday for a symbolic ceremony marking the start of construction on the six‑kilometre route linking Bleesbrück, Tandel and Fouhren.
By the end of the year, the new path is expected to connect the valleys of the Sauer and the Our.
The bike path will stretch over six kilometres. At Bleesbrück, it will join the existing trail along the Sauer, while in Fouhren it will link up with the Our valley cycling path. According to Tandel mayor Carole Gils, the project has been in the pipeline for many years.
The route, initially planned in 2005 to reach Fouhren, saw its development slow down. “Now, fortunately, we have reached the point where the land and all the necessary measures are in place so that we can finally build the path,” Gils said, adding: “I think for cyclists it will be a beautiful route through nature while still keeping close to the main road.”
A distinctive feature of the extension is that part of the route follows the former Benni railway line, which once connected Diekirch and Vianden. One of the highlights is the old railway tunnel in Fouhren, which will be integrated into the cycling path, Bettendorf mayor Patrick Mergen explained.
Running over Bleesbrück and past Bleesmillen and the Millekanal, this section of the track is “really spectacular,” Gils said. Around 70 metres of the tunnel will be preserved and incorporated into the path.
A new bridge is also planned further along PC22, replacing the existing structure over the Selz River. The new bridge will be built higher than the old one “so that once cyclists come from Bleesmillen, they can pass underneath it. At the moment, that’s practically impossible, so it needs to be raised,” Gils added.
The bike path expansion project is estimated to cost around €3 million.
