Six years after work began, construction at the Howald transport hub is still ongoing, with the project proving significantly more expensive than originally planned. The site includes a major transport interchange as well as the redevelopment of Rue des Scillas.
While the initial budget stood at €130 million, that amount will no longer be sufficient, a situation confirmed by the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works. The Chamber of Deputies has noted in an official statement that this development should not come as a surprise, as the need for budget adjustments had already been flagged during discussions within the parliamentary budget execution committee.
The additional funding required to complete the Howald works has been put at €32.5 million, representing around 25% of the original budget. According to information published by the Chamber of Deputies, the cost overruns are mainly due to the sharp rise in construction prices in the early 2020s, increased quantities of work during execution, particularly earthworks and temporary measures, and the complex coordination required with the Luxtram construction site.
Further cost increases were also driven by unforeseen issues during the decontamination and demolition of existing buildings. A substantial volume of contaminated material had to be analysed and then transported to landfill sites abroad, adding significantly to overall costs, according to the Chamber of Deputies.
Howald is not the only project affected. The Clervaux transversal road scheme will also require an additional €14.8 million. Its original budget was estimated at €73 million, meaning the extra funding corresponds to more than 20% of the initial allocation. The reasons cited include a greater-than-expected volume of rock leveling, the handling of around 250,000 cubic metres of surplus material, and the unforeseen demolition of two houses near a roundabout.
Both draft laws authorising the additional funding are scheduled to be voted on by the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday afternoon.
