The next two days will be incredibly challenging for cross-border commuters. After removing barriers at the Saint-Avold toll gate and masking speed cameras in Moselle, farmers are gearing up for another hefty protest. This Thursday and Friday, 25th and 26th of January, the A31 motorway near Thionville is scheduled to be completely blocked off.
The blockade was scheduled to start on Thursday morning at 9am, as confirmed by the Moselle prefect late Thursday evening, and is expected to last until Friday afternoon. This will result in unprecedented chaos, considering that over 100.000 vehicles use this road every day in both directions.
The A3 towards France is closed from the Dudelange - centre exit. Diversions are in place on the A13 in the direction of Petange as far as the Esch junction and on the A4 in the direction of Esch-sur-Alzette.
DIR EST (the Eastern Interdepartmental Road Directorate) is anticipated to block the highway near the Linkling commercial area (in the Metz-Luxembourg direction) and Kanfen (in the Luxembourg-Metz direction).
Additionally, apart from being a significant European corridor, this route is the preferred passage for cross-border commuters traveling to Luxembourg daily.
The Young Farmers of Moselle, in collaboration with the FDSEA (National Federation of Agricultural Holders’ Unions) will co-organise the bloackade of the A31 as well as on two other places:
A post on the official Facebook page of the Moselle prefecture shares the following message: “The prefecture advises to avoid traveling on these highway routes and to work from home instead.” Blockades may also be carried out in Meurthe-et-Moselle.
Margins in large-scale distribution, fallow lands, pesticides, environmental standards, administrative authorisations, diesel prices—farmers and breeders express diverse concerns, yet share a common discomfort. They are torn between the desire to produce and the necessity to reduce their impact on biodiversity and climate.
“The agriculture sector in Moselle wants to continue to exist in the face of French and European standards that hinder its ability to produce and remain competitive against imports that do not face these constraints”, claims the FDSEA and the Young Farmers of Moselle.
With the A31 highway blocked, detours are expected to be set up as a solution. Cross-border commuters heading to Esch-sur-Alzette may consider using the A30. The secondary road network in northern Moselle is also anticipated to face substantial challenges over the next two days.
Fortunately, no disruptions are reported on the Metz-Thionville-Luxembourg train line, offering a potential lifeline for numerous cross-border commuters.
For those who can, remote work can also be a potential solution to avoid complicated journeys.
