The building site is part of the Roads and Bridges Administration’s “new works division”, and was introduced as part of a September 2021 financing law for the redevelopment of the Pontpierre interchange.
In a press release issued by the Roads and Bridges Administration, the work is described as a “first phase”. Yet the building site has been in existence for years. RTL has established that this first phase was launched anew through the 2021 law, although that specific area around the Esch motorway has been in development for quite some time.
The previous building site, which also sought to redevelop the interchange, dates back to a law from 8 June 1999 and was launched back in 2008, with plans drawn up for a full reconstruction with new slip roads. The interchange is one of the oldest of its kind on Luxembourg’s motorway network and is sorely in need of updating to reflect current demands. At the time of these first plans, the idea was to relieve the residential area around Pontpierre of traffic, which is still used today by motorists trying to get onto the A4 in the direction of the capital.
The site was launched in 2008, carrying out the relocation of an existing service station as part of the first phase. However, the subsequent phases have been adjusted over and over again due to different issues encountered throughout development. Plans to add a bus lane were drawn up and abandoned, replaced by ideas to create a hard shoulder wide enough to be deployed for carpooling or public transport at peak times. This idea was further redeveloped into plans to use a so-called “fast tram”.
The constant amendments to the plans, coupled with other unpredictable issues on the ground, led to a repeated stalling of the project. Meanwhile, the budget skyrocketed, approaching the 40 million euro threshold which would require fresh approval from the Chamber of Deputies, as it would no longer be considered a project, but would instead require a new financing law to permit the work to continue.
Over the coming years, the project will seek to expand the motorway in two places around Pontpierre, creating two lanes in each direction, as well as a hard shoulder which can be used for public transport or as a carpooling lane in rush hour. The slip roads onto the A4 will be adjusted, replacing the temporary slip road at the new Texaco services. Finally, an additional step will be a “multimodal corridor” wall to allow for future tram use, although this is not the main feature of the project.
The project also includes roadworks on the N13 around Wickrange and Pontpierre, as well as on rue d’Europe which runs underneath the motorway. The plans foresee the creation of a large oval roundabout, similar to the A13 between Dudelange and Bettembourg, with new entrances and exits.
These works are expected to be completed in February 2026.
From passing the law in 1999, to launching roadworks in 2008, to a renewed first phase fifteen years later... The situation is frustrating for motorists in the area, particularly as there have been no adaptations to the speed limits around the roadworks in years. Will this new “first phase” offer light at the end of the tunnel, with a deadline of February 2026? Only time will tell.
