The Pétrusse valley in Luxembourg City has been undergoing a multi-phase ecological restoration project since June 2020, aimed at rejuvenating both the river and the surrounding park. According to City officials, the first two phases are nearing completion, with the work on the river bed already finished.
The next steps will focus on further improvements to the surrounding park and are estimated to be completed by 2026.
Patrick Licker, head of the City’s sewage services, and Sonja Fandel, head of the park services, jointly manage the project. They told RTL that the second phase is expected to kick off after the summer break in 2024, with planning procedures currently underway.
Despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, the restoration work has remained largely on schedule. However, the pandemic led to the postponement of the ‘Luxembourg Urban Garden’ exhibition, also known as LUGA, from 2023 to 2025. Originally, the exhibition was intended to showcase the first phase of the restoration project.
According to Licker, the delay actually offers some advantages as the exhibition will now provide deeper insights into the more advanced stages of the restoration process.
Officials have reported that the restoration efforts thus far have proven resilient, successfully withstanding the floods of 2021. Although more than 100 trees had to be removed, Fandel stated that the overall ecological impact has been positive. Some of the removed tree roots were integrated into the new river bed, offering both structural reinforcement and hiding spots for fish.
Furthermore, Licker confirmed that some species of fish have already returned to the restored areas of the Pétrusse valley—a significant ecological milestone, considering that the river previously flowed through a concrete bed.
The budget for the first phase was €26 million, which was jointly funded by the municipality of Luxembourg City and the Water Management Fund. Officials confirmed that they have stayed within this budget for the work completed so far.
