Markusbierg Tunnel
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The Markusbierg tunnel is a pair of parallel tunnels, which form the most easterly section of the A13 motorway through Luxembourg, near the town of Schengen. The tunnels are 1575 metres in length, and descend easterly, towards the German border at a 5% gradient. The eastern end of the tunnel runs directly to a viaduct crossing the Moselle River, which forms the border with Germany.
Construction work on the tunnel was initiated on 15 September 1997 and was then opened to public traffic on 24 July 2003, along with the rest of the A13 motorway. Total construction costs were €65m, including €15m for the installation of added security systems.
The tunnel has regular emergency crossing points into the other tunnel, to allow escape in case of emergency. In addition to the normal lighting of the tunnel, and because of the gradient and curve of the tunnel the road edges (including the kerb) are also fully illuminuted which help indicate the strong curve in the tunnel to drivers. A support staff are located at the bottom of the tunnel before the German border.