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Tramways making headway in Liege, Belgium

In the city center of Liege, Belgium, Colas teams are building the future Liège tramway. The last tram lines had been scrapped in the “Ardent City” at the end of the 1960s. Colas Rail, Colas Belgium and Colas Projects are joining forces for the project. The line will stretch for nearly 12 km, serving the city’s main economic centers and cultural sites.

In addition to building a new bike path, some fifty hectares of urban spaces will also be redeveloped by Colas and landscaped with shrubs, perennials and 900 trees. This operation fits squarely with the city’s policy to breathe new life into the downtown area and reduce traffic congestion, giving more room for sustainable mobility options.  

A wealth of expertise

The tram network includes three sections without overhead lines, on which the tram will run solely on battery power. The choice was a question of aesthetics, to preserve the beauty of Liege’s historical city center. In addition, major work has been carried out on engineering structures. Colas Belgium moved a bridge abutment to provide the tramway with the space it needs to pass, while the Tilleuls bridge at the beginning of the route was completely rebuilt.

Contributing to the development of a city resolutely turned towards the future

In addition to offering a new, more environmentally friendly mobility solution, the tramway project aims to provide more peaceful city living. The tramway will improve traffic in Liege, which is currently congested by 2,000 buses traveling every day between the Guillemin station and the city center.  The improvements will clearly make for better living conditions for everyone in Liege.  Securing a contract of this scale confirms Colas' expertise and know-how in the construction of tramway lines and major projects. Colas has worked on most of the recent projects in France, as well as on the Rabat and Casablanca tramways in Morocco. In addition to design and construction, the consortium formed by Colas and CAF will be responsible for rolling stock maintenance over a 27-year period.