The long-awaited first phase of the A3 highway widening project, which has disrupted traffic between the capital and the French border since early 2022, is finally set to debut on March 23, 2025. This first segment, expanding the highway to three lanes between Berchem and Gasperich, is a significant milestone in the €450 million initiative aimed at improving traffic flow.
Traffic on this vital 15-kilometer stretch has been problematic, with more than 80,000 vehicles navigating through daily. The newly configured highway will feature a dedicated lane for buses and carpooling—defined as vehicles with at least two people—between the Berchem rest area and Croix de Gasperich, approximately four kilometers towards Metz. Additionally, a fourth lane specifically for buses will enhance public transportation options.
Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg’s Minister of Mobility and Public Works, emphasized the importance of this project during a media visit, asserting, “This opening of the section is very important for us.” Her sentiments reflect a larger initiative to reduce congestion on this heavily trafficked route, particularly during peak hours when up to 4,000 vehicles can clog the roads.
Starting at midnight on March 23, new arrangements will be implemented, accompanied by highly visible signage. Specifically, a new lane will be created on the far left for buses and carpooling; only eligible vehicles will be allowed access. This rule will be in effect every day, unrestricted by time. Furthermore, the rightmost lane will accommodate buses, facilitating smoother access, particularly toward Kirchberg. Speed limits across this entire section will be capped at 90 km/h, with further reductions to 70 km/h during the busiest hours of the week—Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Backes reiterated that enforcement would be strict. Police checks will be put in place to monitor compliance, imposing fines of €74 for drivers who fail to adhere to the new regulations or who attempt to use these priority lanes solo. To strengthen these enforcement efforts, automated control systems might be adopted to track passenger numbers in vehicles utilizing the priority lanes.
A significant goal of this project is to promote carpooling. Current statistics indicate that the rate of car occupancy entering the capital is alarmingly low, with an average of only 1.2 occupants per vehicle recorded in 2017. Future counting operations will be launched to evaluate changes in carpooling usage.
In addition to the enhancements in traffic management, the opposite direction on the A3, Luxembourg to Metz, will also see its own carpool lane inaugurated on March 30, 2025. This entails adjustments along the two-kilometer stretch from Croix de Gasperich to Berchem.
As the highway expansion project continues, additional phases will follow, with full completion projected for 2030. Notably, before year’s end, the wildlife crossing will be finalized, and the Livange viaduct will undergo rehabilitation. Opening in September 2025 will be work on new slip roads at the interchange; the full 2x3 lane allocation is aimed to address real-time traffic monitoring and control plans cut over the next several years.
In early 2026, a dynamic traffic management system will be implemented to optimize speed limits based on live traffic conditions. The aim is to have a fully automated system by 2030 to further mitigate traffic issues. In the meantime, plans are also in progress across the border in France, where the A31 highway will undergo similar expansions, with expected project dates from 2027 to 2035.
Moreover, as a strategic development, the Kuwaiti oil company Q8 has successfully secured a contract to manage the two service stations along the A3 in Berchem, taking over from Shell and Aral. This move is part of a broader strategy, with Q8 rebranding the services, introducing a Delhaize Shop n’ Go, and closing a McDonald's at the site while relocating its staff to new retail offerings.
