While much of the early work took place underground, visible progress is now evident above ground as well. Earlier this year, construction began on the new youth hostel, situated between the former CFL area and the railway tracks.
This hostel will eventually offer around 120 beds. Adjacent to it, a separate building is being constructed to provide between 60 and 90 administrative workspaces.
Architecturally, the project is designed to stand out in the local landscape. Christian Braun, project manager at the Public Buildings Administration, explained that the ground floor and basement levels are built with concrete, while the structure above the bus station will consist of a steel construction braced with concrete as well.
On the station side, a reinforced concrete core will house stairwells and escape routes, with the upper floors for both the hostel and administrative section utilising a hybrid timber construction.
The youth hostel is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, with a total budget of €63.4 million. The bus station, which was previously split between two sites, is now temporarily located next to the railway tracks.
However, this is only an interim solution, as Florent Puraye, head of the civil engineering division at CFL, clarified. The current bus area occupies the site of the future second track and platform.
Relocating the bus station has freed up space to advance work on the youth hostel and the new park-and-ride facility.
Ultimately, the permanent bus station will be integrated beneath the two new buildings, with the first platform constructed at that location.
Work is also set to begin next year on a multi-storey car park, which will be built by CFL adjacent to the youth hostel. This facility will accommodate between 400 and 450 vehicles and is expected to open in 2029.
Additionally, a new passenger building will be created, which will house both a police station and a small retail unit. Construction of this building is scheduled to begin in 2029 and should be completed by early 2031 at the latest.
By the end of 2028, a new tunnel is set to open, allowing the N7 road to pass beneath the station over a distance of 300 metres, from the Patton Bridge in the north to Rue du Canal in the south.
Marc Ries, head of the Diekirch roads division at Ponts et Chaussées, expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting that the main structural work is almost finished, with only 60 metres remaining.
The recently relocated temporary bus station allowed for the start of work on the southern ramp, which is now nearly complete. Construction is ongoing on the northern ramp.
The final phase of the redevelopment will see Rue Prince Henri transformed into a shared space for pedestrians and buses. The total cost for the Ettelbruck station overhaul, excluding the youth hostel, is projected at €196.6 million.
