The €365-million euro project will take around seven years to complete as work is planned in five phases to avoid causing disruption to traffic. Reports suggest between 70 and 90,000 vehicles per day use the motorway, which is notorious as one of the most congested stretches of road in the country at peak times.

As well as adding a third lane in each direction, the new project includes construction of a 4.5-metre tall sound barrier along a 5.3 kilometre stretch of the road near Bettembourg, to protect residents from noise pollution. Two new bridges for wild animals will also be built as part of the expansion project, and the bicycle path network will be extended between Livange and Pepange.

Minister for sustainable development François Bausch has also managed to push through his plans to prioritise the new third lane for vehicles carrying at least three people and for public transport.

Tram extension approved

Meanwhile, parliament also formally approved plans to extend the original tram network from Luxexpo to Findel via the P&R at Hienhaff at one end and between the main railway station and the Cloche d’Or via Bonnevoie and Howald at the other. The total cost of the extension will run to around €214 million. Work on this should be completed by 2021.