Luxembourg's Roads Administration has announced that the Howald tunnel will be closed completely to traffic for a testing exercise this Sunday, from 09:00 to 11:00.

On 24 October 2021, the Roads Administration and the Grand-Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS), in collaboration with the Labour and Mines Inspectorate (ITM) and the Grand Ducal Police, are organising a full-scale exercise in Howald tunnel.

The aim of this exercise is to test the equipment and functionality of the tunnel and give workers the opportunity to train under real conditions in order to be able to intervene effectively in the event of an accident or fire in the tunnel. These tests are compulsory and deemed essential to guarantee the safety of tunnel users.

After the exercise, the Roads Administration will carry out scenario tests.

For security and organisational reasons, access to the tunnel will be blocked from 08:45 on Sunday.

The following road sections will be closed from around 07:00 until 19:00 on Sunday:

  • the A1 motorway in both directions between the Gasperich cross and the Hamm interchange;
  • the slip roads to the Gasperich cross coming from the A3 and in the direction of the A1 towards Hamm;
  • the slip road to the Gasperich cross coming from the A3 and in the direction of the A6 towards the Cessange cross;
  • the slip roads to the Hamm interchange from the N2 and towards the A1 towards Gasperich.

Traffic coming from the A3 and in the direction of the A1 towards Trier will be diverted via the fixed diversion route "D1" via the Gasperich cross, the A3, the B3, the B31, the CR224, the N2 and the Hamm interchange back onto the A1.

Traffic coming from the A3 and in the direction of the A6 towards the Cessange cross will be diverted via the Gasperich cross, the A3, the Gluck roundabout, the A3 and the Gasperich cross towards the A6.

Traffic coming from the A1 motorway or from the N2 and travelling in the direction of Gasperich will be diverted via the fixed diversion route "D2" via the Hamm interchange, the N2, the CR224, the B31, the B3, the A3 and the Gasperich cross towards the A6 in the direction of the Cessange cross or in the direction of the A3 towards the Bettembourg cross respectively.

Preparatory work will begin several hours in advance, meaning that traffic disruptions are expected from the night of Saturday to Sunday.