Construction Officially Begins on BELU Cross-Border Cycle Path

On Monday 13 April 2026, construction officially began on the BELU high-performance cycle path project linking Arlon (Belgium) and Luxembourg.

According to the relevant authorities, the project will create a safe and comfortable 10-kilometre cycle route connecting existing infrastructure in Luxembourg to the entrance of the City of Arlon. As part of the Interreg Grande Région 2021-2027 programme, this project is supported by the European Union (EU) and led by six Belgian and Luxembourgish partners, with the Public Service of Wallonia Mobility and Infrastructure (SPW MI) acting as lead partner.

On the Luxembourg side, the development of the Kleinbettingen–Steinfort section of the PC12 cycle path (5.25 km) aims to provide daily commuters with a safer cross-border cycling link. The existing route will be relocated to a safer one, creating direct access to Kleinbettingen station and connecting Kleinbettingen, Hagen and Steinfort via the former railway line, up to the junction with the existing PC12. The project incorporates biodiversity protection measures, with the cycle path set to be adjusted in certain areas to preserve zones identified in 2017 as favourable habitats for lizards and specific flora.

Works began in Steinfort on Monday 13 April under the responsibility of Luxembourg's National Roads Administration and are expected to be completed by May-June 2027.

"An integral part of the EuroVelo 5 network, the Via Romea Francigena linking London and Calais to Brindisi, our joint project affirms its European dimension more than ever. It embodies exemplary cooperation, not only between neighbours, but between true friends, and strengthens Belgian-Luxembourgish ties," stated Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg's Minister for Mobility and Public Works. "Designed for cyclists, respectful of biodiversity and focused on well-being and improving quality of life, the cycle path is a further initiative aimed at offering our residents an additional choice for their travel, both professional and personal."

For François Desquesnes, Walloon Minister for Spatial Planning, Business Parks, Public Works, Mobility, Road Safety and Local Authorities, the project "demonstrates that everyday mobility is built together, beyond borders". He added: "Thanks to close coordination with the City of Arlon and our Luxembourg partners, we are creating a continuous, safe cycle route connected to existing networks. This is a concrete solution for the thousands of workers and commuters who cross the border every day."

Hugo Sobral, Deputy Director-General for European Cooperation, Macro-regions, Interreg and Program Implementation at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, emphasised that "the launch of this strategic operation marks an important step towards more sustainable and better-integrated mobility in the cross-border region". He continued: "This 10-kilometre cycle path project between Luxembourg and Belgium concretely illustrates the added value of European cooperation: bringing territories closer together, facilitating citizens’ daily commutes and contributing to the green transition."

In Steinfort, the improvements will ensure a connection between the border and the former local railway line, as well as securing the route to Windhof at Hagen. The municipality of Koerich will be responsible for the link connecting to the existing cycle path at Windhof towards Luxembourg City. The Mayor of Steinfort, Sammy Wagner, noted: "I am very pleased to see this European initiative come to fruition. This cross-border cycling project marks a significant step forward for sustainable mobility and will considerably improve the journeys of our citizens."

"I see in this project the possibility of connecting the municipality of Koerich and the Windhof industrial zone, all within the framework of sustainable mobility," added Daniel Wirth, Mayor of Koerich.

On the Belgian side, works are due to begin at the end of 2026, focusing on transforming the area surrounding the N4 into a dedicated cycle path between Arlon and Steinfort (approx. 6 km). The works will include the redesign of several intersections (including the Birel intersection) and the entrance to Steinfort, as well as the installation of lighting. The project will be managed by the SPW MI and SOFICO (Walloon Infrastructure Financing Company), in close collaboration with the City of Arlon, which will also be involved in the connection to the border at Rue de Steinfort.

Vincent Magnus, Mayor of Arlon, stated: "This cycle path project is much more than just infrastructure. It is a concrete, modern and responsible response to the challenges of our time. It also carries a powerful message: the mobility of tomorrow will not be solely motorised. It will be diverse, connected and adapted to the real needs of citizens."

The cross-border project represents an investment of nearly €10 million (€9,860,952), with approximately 40% co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

In Wallonia, SOFICO will primarily finance the works, with additional contributions from the SPW MI and the City of Arlon. In Luxembourg, the project is being led and financed by the municipalities of Koerich and Steinfort, and the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works.

All works are expected to be completed by early 2028, subject to any unforeseen construction delays.