The border bridge at Wasserbillig, first opened in 1861 and rebuilt after its destruction during the Second World War, is undergoing major renovation work for the first time since 1995. Project manager and civil engineer Meik Cartus explained that the need for these renovations became evident during routine inspections, which revealed significant waterproofing issues.

Water had been seeping into the structure, posing long-term risks to the bridge’s integrity. The primary goal of the project is therefore to renew the waterproofing and upgrade the drainage systems.

Because the bridge is on the border, the project must be coordinated across both Luxembourgish and German jurisdictions. This has required close collaboration between Luxembourg's national railway company (CFL) and Deutsche Bahn (DB) in Germany. Donjeta Mulaj, from DB Koblenz, described the challenges encountered on both the DB and CFL sides, mainly because the regulations in each country differ. Nonetheless, joint solutions were found to respect the rules and guidelines on both sides.

One particular challenge for the project is the River Sauer, which runs beneath the bridge and into the Moselle. To allow works to continue under the bridge, a temporary artificial platform was constructed in the river. Even after train services resume, this platform will remain in use for further work under the bridge, according to Meik Cartus.

Cartus noted that current efforts are focused on the sections of the bridge affecting railway operations, but work under the bridge will probably continue until the end of October using the temporary platform.

Further upgrades to the border bridge are scheduled for 2028. These will include adding a dedicated maintenance pathway, allowing minor repairs to be carried out in future without disrupting rail traffic.