A Look at Luxembourg’s Bridges for the Environment, Non-Motorised Traffic

As an open and outward-looking country, Luxembourg often talks about "building bridges" with its partners and with other countries; it is also home to an array of actual bridges - 1,271 as of 2021.

In this series of articles, Chronicle.lu will offer an overview of a selection of bridges scattered across the Grand Duchy. This article looks at bridges for the environment and for non-motorised traffic.

Bridges have historic and strategic significance (see articles on Historic Bridges - Part 1 and Part 2). They are also border markers, similar to natural borders such as rivers.

Bridges for the environment

Luxembourg has been promoting ecological and sustainable infrastructure through the construction of wildlife crossings across its motorways. Two such wildlife crossings can be found on the A1 motorway (in place since the early 1990s) and on the A7 "Roost" wildlife crossing tunnel, part of the Route du Nord project in Luxembourg. Located between the Mersch Nord and Goodyear interchanges, the latter tunnel features a rounded, wildlife-friendly design built using an open trench method; the tunnel's design supports both vehicle traffic and large wildlife passage. The project also included efforts to restore vegetation and mitigate environmental impacts. There is also the brand-new arch on the edge of the A3 motorway, on the border between Luxembourg and France, finalised in April 2024 (with greening efforts to follow). These ecoducts are designed to allow various species, including deer and smaller mammals, to cross safely over the motorway, thus preserving ecological corridors.

Bridges for non-motorised traffic

Luxembourg has also invested in footbridges and cycle bridges to promote soft mobility. One such bridge is, for example, the Passerelle des Arts (arts gateway), located on the Kirchberg plateau. This is a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, inaugurated in April 2024, with a total length of 87 metres and an elevation of 12 metres. It blends into the wooded landscape crossing the Trois Glands national forest to connect the contemporary urban development of the Kirchberg plateau, notably the Rout Bréck-Pafendall interchange hub, MUDAM and the Dräi Eechelen Museum.

In 2023, a new 88-metre-long ramp for cyclists and pedestrians called “Mühlenweg” was inaugurated, overlooking the Jean-Pierre Buchler bridge in Luxembourg-Ville. This project was part of the reconstruction of the Jean-Pierre Buchler bridge and constituted the last major step before the finishing work.

Another notable (and much older) footbridge is the Pont du Château, built in 1735 from red sandstone and located in the heart of Luxembourg City. It connects the old town (Ville Haute) with the newer parts of the city, offering picturesque views of the Alzette River and the Bock promontory.

The Vëlodukt is Europe's longest cycle bridge, located between Esch-sur-Alzette and Esch-Belval. It has elevated walkways, is 7.5 m high, 4.5 m wide and 1.2 km long, and offers soft mobility users a picturesque view of the Terres Rouges region's industrial heritage. The Belval bridge links the former ArcelorMittal production site in Esch-sur-Alzette with the newer Belval neighbourhood. Although pedestrians and cyclists have been using it since its inauguration in December 2022, landscaping work was only finalised in summer 2024. One of the paths is reserved for cyclists and leads in a straight line towards Belval. On the other, pedestrians can meander their way through a park-like setting.

The Passerelle d'Esch-sur-Alzette (pedestrian bridge in Esch-sur-Alzette), built in 2009, is a link between the bustling city centre and the Parc du Galgenberg. Before it was built, access to the park was difficult despite its proximity to the city. The exterior, painted in a pale grey hue, accentuates its subtle curvature, while the interior boasts a striking iron oxide red, reminiscent of the Minette region’s characteristic soil. The bridge’s outer part is bright white. The red “path” on the inside of the bridge delineates the transition from the urban hub’s grey to the verdant recreational space of the park.

Many bridges in the Grand Duchy are being constructed not just over rivers, but for and over motorways. They include, for example, the construction of the tram extensions to the Stade de Luxembourg and to Luxembourg Airport.