The Government of Catalonia is working to extend the L8 line of the FGC rail system at various points in the city. The work requires a series of preliminary actions needed to link the services affected by these future works, meaning that over Easter work will be carried out at Pl. Espanya to execute the crossing points for sewerage, power lines, gas service and telecommunictions, by C/ Llança.

Disruptions to mobility

The work means disruptions to mobility in Gran Via from the night of 31 March to midday on 10 April. Specifically, the inbound road tunnel beneath Pl. Espanya will be closed to traffic between C/ Mèxic and C/ Llança.

The recommended alternative is to use the ring roads before reaching Pl. Cerdà. If reaching this square, the best options are either to divert towards Ronda del Mig or head for Pg. Zona Franca and get onto Ronda Litoral. Traffic restrictions will be in place in Gran Via as from Pl, Cerdà, as it will only be possible to cross using the side lane.

While the work has been scheduled for Easter as there will be less traffic, users are advised to avoid this entry point to the city.

Traffic on the Gran Via / C-31 from Pl. Cerdà and wishing to stay on the Gran Via once past Pl. Espanya will need to use the side lane above ground on the side nearest the sea and go through Pl. Espanya to then get back onto the Gran Via.

In the side-lane section nearest the sea, between C/ Mèxic and Pl. Espanya, three traffic lanes will be available and C/ Mèxic will offer a one-way street towards Montjuïc so that cars can divert to: Rius i Taulet – Lleida-Tamarit-Paral·lel or Entença.

With C/ Mèxic operating as a one-way street, this means that from C/ Sant Fructuós to C/ Mèxic it will only be possible to turn right in the direction of Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, and from here traffic heading in the direction of the Besòs will not be able to turn towards C/ Mèxic.

Future L8

Implemented by the Ministry for Territory, the work scheduled for the connection of the Llobregat-Anoia and Vallès lines of the FGC rail network started in July last year, with an investment of 6.5 million euros. The goal is to unite the stations of Pl. Espanya and Gràcia and connect the Llobregat-Anoia line with the Barcelona-Vallès line over a section of 3.5 kilometres which will include four stations, three of them newly built: Hospital Clínic, allowing users to connect to the L5 metro line; Francesc Macià, offering a connection with the Trambaix and Gràcia, and Plaça de Gal·la Placídia.

Besides the closure of the road tunnel beneath Pl. Espanya, work on the trenches and pipes for services affected mean some traffic lanes are currently being used which correspond to the future Hospital Clínic station and the new Gràcia station.