Not to be confused with the Iergäertchen turbo roundabout (the multi-lane roundabout putting even the most experienced driver to the test), the Sandweiler roundabout a few kilometres on still suffers from morning congestion.
For years, attempts have been made to improve the current infrastructure, according to transport minister François Bausch. In February 2022, construction work began on the roundabout.
“The Schaffner turbo roundabout is now working much better. Its construction has been completed, a huge and complicated project. Then we also recently redesigned the road from the roundabout towards Sandweiler to make it easier to exit,” says Bausch.
But the roundabout remains congested in peak hours.
The logistics centre established in Contern, which brings a lot of lorry traffic with it, adds to the problem. Up to 2,000 cars pass through the roundabout in the morning at peak times. As a result, motorists lose between 15-30 minutes per journey.
The evenings are better. Based on the distance between the Sandweiler roundabout and Iergäertchen, “transit time is reduced from about 12 to five minutes per vehicle. This means that the motorist gains seven to eight minutes per day,” says Roland Fox, Director of the Roads and Bridges Department.
So what will the upgrade entail? “A new interchange will be built to access the A1 motorway. This should connect the logistics zone in Contern directly to the motorway via Scheedhaff. This is our last possibility to control the road network.”
The project is still in its infancy, with a study underway. But the interchange is on the priority list, according to the Ministry of Transport.
