Containers and orange waistcoats have taken over the corner of the Place des Martyrs since Monday 23 January. The construction site is just above the underground car park of the same name, closed since it was hit by a fire in September 2019.

“The renovation work has started and will last until the end of 2024,” says (DP), mobility alderman of Luxembourg City. The project will be concluded a few months later than expected.

The Rue du Plébiscite is closed until December next year, while the Rue Sainte-Zithe will become a dual carriageway between the Rue du Plébiscite and the Rue de la Grève for the same period.

Work had already taken place at the end of 2022, but only concerned the slab outside the car park and served to stabilise the structure. “The real work starts now,” according to Goldschmidt. 

Causes still unclear

In 2019, it was revealed that the fire had started from a car--not electric, contrary to the first rumours--on the first underground level. More than three years later, many questions remain: what were the exact causes of the fire? Did the fire come from the engine or from inside the car? Which insurance, between that of the vehicle’s manufacturer, its owner, or that of the car park’s owner, i.e. the City, should reimburse the costs?

The city has still not received any details on this subject. “I can only tell you that we have voted a budget of €22.5m for the renovation. In parallel, our lawyers are looking at how much, if any, the insurance will pay. This has not yet been clarified. But the entire car park renovation project has been voted on by the local council and will be carried out, regardless of whether or not we get the reimbursements,” the alderman explains. The part that could possibly be covered is included in the €22.5m budget.

From 440 to 350 places

The city’s objective is to go beyond simple repair work to renovate the car park so that it meets safety standards. Damage could have been limited at the time if there had been a sprinkler system at the -1 level, several media reported in 2019.

In the end, 350 spaces should be available, instead of the original 440. “They will be wider. We will also put in two lifts and spaces for bicycles” in addition to 12 spaces for electric cars, explains Goldschmidt.

In the meantime, there is a shortage of parking spaces in the city centre during the day. The Saint-Esprit reopened to state employees only after refurbishment works. The Knuedler on the other hand made 275 spaces available at the end of 2022.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.