Following the excavation of the Grund canal up to the Pont Adolphe Bridge, the next stage will extend the restoration to Rue d’Anvers near the Gare district and Hollerich, returning the waterway to a more natural state.
Mayor Lydie Polfer highlighted the ecological and aesthetic benefits of the project, as well as improved flood protection. While 56 trees will need to be felled, Alderman Maurice Bauer assured that all would be replaced, with additional trees planted to compensate. He also reiterated the city’s commitment to planting 30,000 new trees in the coming years.
Alderman Patrick Goldschmidt outlined the traffic impact: the cycle path through Pétrusse will be diverted via Rue de la Semois, behind the International Bank of Luxembourg (BIL), while vehicle traffic on that road will be restricted to one-way towards the station for safety reasons.
Tenders for the renaturation will be launched soon, though no exact date has been given. However, tree planting will begin this month, as it must be completed before the end of February under legal requirements.
The project is expected to take two and a half years and will cost around €15 million. The first phase of the Pétrusse renaturation has already cost €40 million, with the state covering nearly half, partly through European Investment Bank loans.
Environment minister Serge Wilmes announced plans for a ‘renaturation table’ this autumn, bringing together public actors, municipalities, and private stakeholders. He also promised state funding of up to 90%, though this would vary by project.
Responding to this, Polfer quipped: “You give us hope that we might not just receive 50%, but perhaps 90%... That has not fallen on deaf ears.” However, she added that the city was already satisfied with the state’s support.
Meanwhile, there has been no progress on the proposed lift connecting Place de la Constitution (Gëlle Fra) to the Pétrusse Valley. Polfer cited technical challenges and concerns over its impact on the cityscape. Alternative locations for the lift are now being explored.
