Although the new bridge for cyclists and pedestrians has only just opened, it has already been met with criticism, less than a week since its inauguration on 23 December.
Critics say it is not well linked between Esch-sur-Alzette and Belval, and the municipality has missed a chance to fix necessary infrastructure in the area.
RTL’s Annick Goerens and Tim Morizet hopped on their bikes to put the new bridge to the test.
The 1,200 metre-long bridge stands 7.5 metres tall and runs through the heart of Luxembourg’s steel industry region. On one side lies the railway; on the other, buildings of historical importance, as well as ArcelorMittal’s still active factories. The bridge offers an impressive insight into the Grand Duchy’s industrial heritage, with views that would have been inaccessible to regular citizens prior to its construction.
RTL’s journalists initially found it difficult to locate the start of the bridge, with a lack of signage in the area. The roads around the bridge entrance are partially closed off due to building works, and the construction area is unlikely to be completed much before 2024.
Although the new cycle path stretches for 1.5 kilometres, beyond the bridge there is nothing to distinguish the path from the road. It also ends abruptly at the junction of a busy road, forcing cyclists to seek alternative routes to the centre of Esch-sur-Alzette. Here too, the journalists encountered a lack of signs, with the route still very much proving to be a work in progress.
