The new avenue on Gran Via now connects with Parc de les Glòries
The first phase of construction of the new avenue along Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, between Carrer de Badajoz and Rambla del Poblenou, is now complete. With a budget of 12.5 million euros, the project has improved connections between neighbourhoods and introduced green spaces, play areas and spots to relax. The next phase of work, which will focus on the seaward side, is set to begin this autumn.
Urbanisation of the cover of the Gran Via
Once the transformation is complete, this stretch of Gran Via will become a 50-metre-wide, 70,000-square-metre public space designed with people in mind, in response to a long-standing demand from local residents.
The central section, which is already open to the public, features a wide avenue over 20 metres wide. On the side where the residential buildings are located, the pavement has been widened to 7.35 metres in areas without a service lane. A new single-level lane has also been introduced for bicycles, local traffic and service vehicles.
The intersections with Carrer de la Llacuna and Rambla del Poblenou, as well as Plaça Valentí Almirall, have now been renovated to encourage pedestrian activity and foster neighbourhood life. Meanwhile, the intersection with Carrer dels Escultors Claperós has been widened to accommodate temporary events such as fairs and festivals.
The new development was constructed using environmentally friendly materials and designs that support water cycle management and localised lighting. Green spaces are at the heart of the avenue’s transformation— by the time the project is finished, over four hundred trees will have been planted.
Work on the seaward side will begin this autumn
The transformation on the seaward side of Gran Via will begin this autumn. This phase of the project will be carried out in collaboration with the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM), as it includes upgrades to the tram network. The development will feature a 4-metre-wide pavement, a lane for local traffic and cyclists and space for a split tram line alongside two-way bus traffic. The project will also involve rerouting the Trambesòs: the existing single track between Rambla del Poblenou and Ciutat de Granada will be removed, and additional pedestrian crossings will be installed to improve foot traffic.
The second phase of the project is expected to last seventeen months, with completion planned for the first half of 2027. The municipal budget of 23 million euros covers the urban development and part of the tram infrastructure, while the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità will fund the remaining tram works with an investment of 9.24 million euros.
