Projects
The Cents Neudorf Weimershof gateway
Category
Cents Neudorf Weimershof Gateway
The City of Luxembourg has commissioned us, as part of a joint venture with Cimolai and Kuhn Construction, to build a landmark structure dedicated to sustainable transport.
Measuring 200 metres in length, the pedestrian and cycle bridge will link the residential district of Cents with the Kirchberg district.
A lift will complete the link with the Neudorf district. Our teams began work in April 2025 at the three sites.
The footbridge will provide a practical solution to improve the ease of getting around Luxembourg City. Residents will be able to reach Cents, starting from Rue Tawioun, and Weimershof, on Rue des Bleuets, in just 200 metres. Neudorf will be connected to the footbridge via a lift with a capacity of 60 people, which is fully accessible to cyclists.
200m
200 m total span
4, 50 m
usable width
70 m
Central pylon
50–53 m
Deck suspended
60–66 m
Panoramic elevator
A dizzying crossing
The technical specifications of the future footbridge and cycle path are impressive ->
The footbridge consists of two main spans, 65 m on the Weimershof side and 135 m on the Cents side. The central pier, rising to a height of around 70 m, will support the structure, while the elevator tower in Neudorf will reach a height of around 60 m. The deck, 6 m wide with a usable width of 4.5 m, will be positioned at a height of approximately 50 m. The difference in height between Weimershof and Cents is approximately 5 m, adding an additional challenge to the assembly of this innovative footbridge.
Successfully anchored, heading for the peaks
The deep foundation work for the main pier is now complete. To ensure absolute stability on the steep slopes of the valley, our teams drilled and anchored tie rods to a depth of up to 15 metres, passing through the fill areas to anchor directly into the rock.
Today, we are focusing on the reinforcement and formwork for the abutment walls. These concrete structures are characterised by a steep incline of 83° and a thickness of 1.30 m, ensuring the long-term stability of the anchorage in this complex terrain.
A first for Luxembourg
The major challenge of this project lies in its particularly confined location and the handling of very heavy loads. To address this, we are incorporating a technical innovation: the use of Ultra-High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) for the design of the deck slab. This is a first for a structure in Luxembourg. This exceptional concrete can withstand a pressure of 150 MPa, compared to around 45 MPa for traditional concrete. As it is much stronger, less material is required, which significantly reduces the total weight of the structure whilst offering great architectural finesse.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The watchmaker’s precision
The combination of civil engineering and steel structural work requires virtually zero margin for error and perfect alignment. Within the walls themselves, we are currently installing the anchor plates supplied by Cimolai.
The alignment of these components, which are designed to accommodate the footbridge’s future cables, is a matter of hundredths of a millimetre. Our engineers must also take the laws of physics into account: during the final post-tensioning phase — when the cables are tensioned — the pressure exerted will be such that the footbridge will contract by around 40 centimetres along its entire length!
A leap into the void
Due to space constraints preventing the use of traditional cranes in the valley, the deck will be assembled using a specific installation method. We will proceed with the ‘launch’ of the 30-tonne segments from the Cents side. A system of winches and suspended trolleys will enable them to be transported one by one across the void, as soon as the winter holidays are over.
A complex, demanding and exciting project, and we are proud to share its progress with you!
