Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services and Housing

The transformation of the four green streets in L’Eixample continues from Wednesday, 18 January, switching to the sides of the streets of Consell de Cent, Rocafort, Comte Borrell and Girona where work was still to begin.

Work is now under way on the side of Consell de Cent nearest the mountains, and the side nearest the Besòs in the streets of Rocafort, Comte Borrell and Girona.

Changes in mobility

The circulation of pedestrians and bicycles is guaranteed. A traffic lane has been enabled for the circulation of vehicles and measures 3.6 metres wide. This second stage of work will occupy the street corners in their entirety, including the blue parking spaces there and the loading and unloading areas, which will be shifted into the permitted sections in these streets.

The streets in question will be closed to vehicles intermittently in January to enable concrete fencing to be moved into them.

Work completed

In the sections where work has been carried out, road surfaces have been replaced with granite paving and panot paving stones, groundwater channels created, sewerage reorganised, rainwater collection networks renewed, new lighting installed and various services supplied by utility companies adapted. Tree beds have also been enlarged from 1 to 4 square metres, with concrete bases positioned in the spaces where vehicles will circulate.

A plan to tackle the challenges of the future

The four green streets and squares are designed for people, giving priority to pedestrian mobility and time spent outdoors, gaining over 58,000 square metres. Greenery will be more visible, the previous 1% rising so that it takes up 12% of space, with streets adopting curbless paving and becoming more accessible and pleasant for everybody.

The work is one of the main measures in the Barcelona Superblock plan, which turns the concept of public space on its head and breaks away from the model of the last few decades. Yet the project maintains the spirit of Cerdà’s street plan, with values linked to health and the democratisation of public space, adapting it to the needs of today and tomorrow.