Avenida Diagonal, that major thoroughfare that both cuts through and connects Barcelona’s urban fabric, is preparing to undergo its final transformation. The long-awaited project to connect the two ends of the tram network through the heart of the city now has a set date: construction on the last remaining section will begin this summer, just a few weeks after the municipal elections scheduled for May.
The announcement was made by Mayor Jaume Collboni during an interview on Cadena Ser, where he emphasized that the start of this work fulfills the promise to begin construction before the end of his term. The initiative became official after a committee approved a budget of 120 million euros on Thursday—funds that will be used to carry out the redevelopment of the stretch of road that currently separates the Francesc Macià and Verdaguer neighborhoods. “Today we can confirm that, indeed, our commitment will be fulfilled,” the mayor stated.
Three new stops in the heart of the city
The remaining track section needed to complete the tram network along Diagonal spans exactly 2.8 kilometers. To cover this route, the project calls for the construction of three new stations that will transform transportation for downtown residents: Diagonal–Cinc d’Oros, Balmes, and Casanova.
The administrative machinery is already in motion to meet the summer deadlines. According to the details of the announcement, the public bids to award this civil engineering project will be published within two or three weeks.
The focus, however, is on the end of the decade. As the mayor emphasized during his remarks, the goal is for the infrastructure to be completed and fully operational by 2031. Once finished, this major rail link will allow a single tram to travel uninterrupted from the Baix Llobregat region to northern Barcelonès.
