The bypass road project in Hosingen is entering its final stage

The project for a bypass road around Hosingen, which was discussed at municipal council meetings as early as 1972, is finally entering the active implementation phase. After construction begins in 2023, the most progress will be made at the northern entrance to the town, where a tunnel is being built. Work is expected to accelerate significantly along the entire length of the route this year, with the first section scheduled to open in 2028.

Today, around 17,000 vehicles pass through Hozingen on the N7 road every day — a load for which the road was not historically designed. This is precisely what has fuelled demands for the construction of a bypass for decades. The central element of the project was a 325-metre-long tunnel built using cut-and-cover technology. During the course of the work, around 450,000 cubic metres of soil were excavated, of which approximately 250,000 are now being backfilled on top of the finished structure.

Roland Fox, Director of the National Roads Administration, explained that the tunnel was built in stages over two and a half years: the contractor advanced in sections of approximately 12 metres, installing formwork and reinforcement and pouring concrete on a weekly basis. The last pour was completed in October last year. Work is now being completed on waterproofing the southern portal, after which the tunnel will be completely covered with soil. Tenders for technical equipment are planned to be announced before the end of the year. Due to its relatively short length, a ventilation system will not be required, but safety issues remain a priority.

Forecasts suggest that between 20,000 and 25,000 vehicles will use the bypass each day. In view of this, the tunnel has been designed with two lanes in each direction, with a maximum speed limit of 70 km/h inside the tunnel, rather than 90 km/h as on open stretches of road.

The Hozingen bypass will stretch for approximately 2.5 kilometres – from the roundabout at the petrol station to the junction towards Rodershausen. Construction will take place simultaneously on several sections in the coming months: according to Fox, work will begin on eight sites at once in the spring or summer. The goal is to open the section passing directly by Hozingen in the summer of 2028, which will allow transit traffic to be redirected and the reconstruction of the road and underground utilities within the village to begin.

Two bridges are being built simultaneously: one over the marshy area near the An der Méilchen residential neighbourhood, and the other between Boukelzerstrooss and Happerfeld streets. In the future, Boukelzerstrooss will pass under the new bridge and reconnect to the road network opposite the traffic police buildings, which will further reduce transit traffic through the centre.

The project is expected to be completed much later. After Hozingen, the bypass road should continue for another two kilometres to Dorscheiderhaischen. According to current estimates, this stage could be completed in 2030–2031, after which additional measures to improve safety on the N7 towards Marnach (Marnach). Between Hozingen and Dorscheiderhaischen, there are also plans to build a wildlife underpass and replace the existing crossroads with a multi-level junction.

The project was initially estimated to cost around €155 million, but the budget has since been revised and increased to around €200 million. The Hozingen bypass is part of a larger programme to improve safety on the N7, including the installation of central dividing barriers on the section between Fridhaff and Weiswampach. Work in this area has recently become visible following the completion of environmental compensation measures required to comply with environmental permits.