€7m Bicycle & Pedestrian Passerelle des Arts Bridge Inaugurated

On Friday 26 April 2024, Luxembourg’s Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Yuriko Backes, the Minister for Culture, Eric Thill, the Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer, and the Director of the Kirchberg Fund, Marc Widong, in the presence of the Director of the Museum of Modern Art Grand-Duc Jean (MUDAM), Bettina Steinbrügge, attended the inauguration of the “Passerelle des Arts” (arts gateway), located in the European district of the Kirchberg plateau.

The new pedestrian and cycle bridge, with a total length of 87 meters and an elevation of twelve meters, forms a graceful S-shaped curve. It blends into the wooded landscape crossing the Trois Glands national forest to connect the contemporary urban development of the Kirchberg plateau, notably the Rout Bréck-Pafendall interchange hub, the MUDAM and the Dräi Eechelen Museum. The main reported objective of this work was to facilitate access to the site and improve its visibility to enhance visitor turnout of the park and its cultural establishments. The project forms part of the General Development Plan of the City of Luxembourg (PAG) as a “corridor and space reserved for soft mobility projects”.

According to the ministries, a key aspect of this project was its commitment to the environment. The design and layout were carefully planned to preserve the movement of the existing trees. A lighting system was integrated into the footbridge to ensure the safety of its users while minimising potential disruption to the nocturnal activity of local wildlife.

The choice of Duplex stainless steel was based on its mechanical properties, its weather resistance and durability. The footbridge’s mirror polish gives it a distinctive aesthetic and sculptural appearance.

The stainless-steel structure’s construction began at the beginning of 2022. The total construction cost of this project amounted to €7,000,000 including tax.

“In our quest to shape a modern, inclusive and forward-looking country, infrastructure plays a crucial role. They are the arteries that fuel urban life, the links that connect neighbourhoods and communities, and the avenues. The establishment of this new gateway marks a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable mobility. So, I am delighted to see that our cyclists and pedestrians can now take full advantage of this new footbridge to move easily and safely in the European district of the Kirchberg plateau, without having to make a long detour. By promoting soft modes of transport such as walking and cycling, we improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encourage a healthier lifestyle and strengthen social cohesion, while promoting a more pleasant and inclusive urban environment,” underlined Minister Backes.

“Pafendall-Routbréck is a mobility exchange hub, the MUDAM bridge that we are inaugurating today is a cultural exchange hub. The organic shapes of the bridge and the Nairy Baghramian sculpture attract travellers who become visitors to an exceptional cultural space,” added Minister Thill.

Mayor Lydie Polfer said: “The distinctive conception and avant-garde design of the new footbridge linking the Bastion to the Grand-Duc Jean Museum of Modern Art offers a striking contrast with the natural and historically valuable setting of our capital and in particular of Park Dräi Eechelen. Thanks to the reflections of the environment in the material used, the footbridge blends wonderfully into its green environment. There is no doubt that pedestrians and cyclists will find real pleasure in using this bridge, which undeniably contributes to improving soft mobility within Luxembourg City. Architecture enthusiasts will also discover a certain interest there, seduced by the steel structure and the technical and architectural richness that it represents.”

Marc Widong added: “The Fund is delighted with this additional link in the soft mobility network in Kirchberg. It brings the Dräi Eechelen site closer to the European district which is completing its transformation from an administrative campus served by the automobile towards a real urban development which offers all the possibilities of movement.

Bettina Steinbrügge noted that “the entire MUDAM team was impatiently awaiting the opening of the footbridge. Today we are closer to the city, with pioneering architecture that corresponds perfectly to the MUDAM programme.”

On the occasion of this inauguration, the bronze sculpture Beliebte Stellen/Privileged Points (2017) by the artist Nairy Baghramian, initially located at Fort Thüngen, was moved to John F Kennedy Avenue. It thus became a new entry point to the Park Dräi Eechelen and the museums.