A31bis public inquiry gives Luxembourg commuters until 27 June to speak up

The A31bis north project has moved from recurring commuter complaint to formal public inquiry. The official register opened on 11 May and runs until 27 June 2026, covering the planned road development between the Richemont interchange and the Luxembourg border. For Luxembourg’s French frontaliers, this is the moment when the project file is no longer only a political argument but an administrative procedure that can still collect objections, support and technical observations.

The inquiry is broader than a simple motorway widening. The official notice says it covers the declaration of public utility for the A31bis north project, the compatibility changes needed in seven local urban plans, and the classification of the new western Thionville bypass as a motorway. The communes named in the file are Entrange, Fameck, Florange, Richemont, Terville, Thionville and Zoufftgen.

RTL Today reports that the project would widen the northern stretch from two to three lanes between Thionville and the Luxembourg border and create a new bypass for southern Thionville, including a tunnel under Florange that would reconnect with the A30. The stated transport goal is to ease pressure on the existing A31 and improve links with the Fensch valley and the RD652 toward Rombas.

The cost and toll issue is what makes the file especially practical for commuters. RTL Today cites a total project cost approaching EUR 900 million and estimated one-way tolls of EUR 1.97 from Thionville to Luxembourg, around EUR 3.88 between Richemont and Luxembourg via the tunnel, and higher rates for heavy goods vehicles. The final toll would only be fixed after a concessionaire is chosen, but the current estimates already imply a recurring daily cost for workers who drive to Luxembourg.

Opposition groups object to the environmental footprint, possible expropriations, extra nuisance for residents and the principle of a new toll road. The official calendar also matters: the inquiry site lists upcoming sessions including Florange on 30 May, Fameck on 1 June, Uckange on 3 June, a public meeting at the COSEC gymnasium in Florange on 6 June and Terville on 8 June. A declaration of public utility is expected in 2027 if the file advances, while construction is not expected before 2030 or 2031.

For Luxembourg readers, the immediate takeaway is simple: comments must be filed before 27 June, and the subject is not only French local planning. The route handles a large part of the daily flow into Luxembourg, RTL Today reports more than 65,000 vehicles crossing daily in the corridor, and the balance between road capacity, rail seats, carpooling, buses and telework will shape commuting costs for years.