A different view of Luxembourg's Red Bridge

(GS/JB) At almost 50, Luxembourg's iconic Red Bridge is about to undergo some changes to accommodate the new tramway.

Work will begin on this imposing structure straddling the Alzette valley in October 2015 and is expected to reach completion in 2017.

The indispensible component of urban planning connects the upper town with the Kirchberg plateau, which, prior to its construction was a rural and agricultural area chosen to house the European Institutions in Luxembourg.

The Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge (as it is officially known) was designed by Egon Jux, to rise 75 metres above the Alzette and span a distance of 355 metres.

The foundation stone was placed on June 20, 1963 and three years later, it received its final stress test when 12 tanks weighing a total 480 tonnes were driven across it.

The bridge passed the test with flying colours and later opened to the public. In later years, it gained notoriety as a suicide location from which desperate people would jump to their deaths.

Plexiglass walls were installed as a preventative measure. Today, the bridge remains an imposing landmark on the Luxembourg City skyline, inspiring photographers, writers and more.

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