A3 motorway: traffic moving in three lanes

Motorists, cross-border workers, car-share enthusiasts and public transport users: you will certainly have noticed that since the weekends of 22 and 30 March 2025, the A3 motorway has become the first in the country to offer three lanes of traffic in each direction on this specific section between Croix de Gasperich and the Livange interchange, covering a distance of approximately 6 kilometres.

Launched in 2022 and after nearly three years of work, these improvements were eagerly awaited by the 90,000 vehicles that travel daily on this major road connecting Luxembourg City to France. Who has never suffered from morning traffic jams or slowdowns at the end of the day? From now on, the third lane will provide concrete relief for motorists.

Specifically, this third lane is reserved for carpooling vehicles (minimum two people on board) and buses, with regular checks and penalties for offences. The stated objective is to improve traffic flow in the long term while encouraging more environmentally friendly and responsible modes of transport.

To ensure safe traffic flow, the maximum authorised speed is set at 70 km/h only during peak hours, i.e. in the morning from 6 am to 11 am and in the afternoon from 3 pm to 8 pm, and at 90 km/h outside these periods. In the first phase, signalling will be provided by traditional fixed signs Subsequently, in 2026, dynamic electronic signalling will be introduced to regulate traffic even better in real time.

The transition to the three lanes took place in two major stages, on the weekends of 22 and 23 March, then 29 and 30 March, thus gradually marking a palpable relief for motorists accustomed to daily congestion.

However, work is still planned: the full widening to the French border is expected to continue until 2030, further enhancing the benefits of the project.

There are also some important features to note: in the direction of Luxembourg City, a second lane exclusively for buses is planned from the Aire de Berchem, thus eliminating a recurring source of delays However, the hard shoulder (Pannespuer) will disappear on this section, to be replaced by occasional emergency bays. In the opposite direction, towards France, the reserved lane will end at Livange, requiring increased vigilance to avoid traffic jams by respecting the pull-out system principle.

In addition, dynamic electronic signage is planned to further improve the real-time information provided to drivers. In the meantime, conventional fixed signs will continue to provide effective guidance to users.

Finally, the project also includes environmental measures such as the installation of noise barriers and the development of a safe wildlife crossing.

The transformation of the A3 thus opens a new chapter for fluid, sustainable and coordinated mobility on a regional scale. It is now up to you to take full advantage of it in complete safety!

According to Alex Friedrich, traffic expert at ACL, ‘it will take some time for users to fully get used to this new configuration At first, the benefits of the new lanes will not be immediately apparent.’ He also points out that ’where difficulties could arise is with the pull-out system: motorists will need time to get used to how it works. However, this third lane is a clear advantage when one of the conventional lanes is blocked, considerably reducing traffic jams. He therefore advises patience, adding that ‘spectacular success should not be expected from the outset, but over time these measures will bear fruit.’ Finally, he reminds us that ‘the project is not finished and work will continue until 2030, requiring a certain tolerance before the full benefits of the project can be seen.