Summer in Barcelona usually smells of hot asphalt, of beaches filling up, and, almost inevitably, of the clatter of construction sites taking advantage of the summer break to give the city a facelift. This year, the scene of change shifts to the area around Les Glòries, that major urban hub continuing its metamorphosis to become a more welcoming space. The landscape of Gran Via, between Badajoz and Bilbao streets, will be transformed once again to create a 50-meter-wide pedestrian promenade, but first we’ll have to put up with the temporary silence of the tracks.
The Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM) and the Barcelona City Council are moving forward with work to remove the current single-track section and replace it with a double-track platform. This project, key to the future connection of the Diagonal, will require a complete suspension of service on the T4, T5, and T6 lines of the Trambesòs between July 3 and September 13. The authorities have already designed a shuttle bus system to mitigate the impact of the construction work, which will affect nearly three million trips.
Service disruptions line by line
The summer break will disrupt the usual routes of thousands of commuters traveling daily between Barcelona and the Besòs region. The closures will be distributed as follows:
- Line T4: Service will be completely suspended on the section between the Verdaguer and El Maresme stations.
- Lines T5 and T6: Both routes will cease operation between the Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica and Sant Martí de Provençals stops.
The impact is significant: the lines under construction or suspended are, essentially, those connecting much of the city center with the beaches of Poblenou, Sant Martí, and the Forum, so public transportation for heading to the beach is thus limited to the metro and alternative bus routes.
How to get around: alternative buses and the metro
To ensure no one is left stranded, two special bus lines will be set up to follow the suspended routes and will operate on the same schedule as the tram.
To replace the T4, a special bus will connect Verdaguer and El Maresme. As an underground alternative, the L4 metro line can be used, though it’s worth noting that it will not stop at Verdaguer station from July 6 to August 30 due to construction work in the station lobby.
To cover the T5 and T6 lines, another shuttle bus will connect Marina and Besòs. In this case, the L4 metro line will serve as a connection between Besòs and Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica, while the V21 bus line will operate as an alternative between Marina and Ciutadella. The transportation plan will be completed by metro lines L1 and L2, buses H12 and 7, and the R1 Rodalies trains between Sant Adrià and El Clot.
Traffic changes and bike lanes
The surge in construction will also affect those traveling on foot, by car, or by bicycle. Traffic on Diagonal Avenue heading toward Llobregat will be diverted onto Tànger Street, allowing access to Llacuna Street only to residents and service vehicles. Cars heading toward the city center must take a detour via Tànger Street to Padilla or Marina Streets.
Cyclists will also have to adjust their routine: the bike lane on Diagonal between Ciutat de Granada and Glòries will be closed. To head toward Llobregat, cyclists should use Gran Via or the lanes on Tànger and Sancho de Ávila, while Bolivia Street will be open for those heading toward Besòs. To address any questions, a team of information officers will be stationed at the affected stations before and during the first few days of the closures.
A horizon looking toward 2027
The start of the school year will bring some relief. Starting September 14, the T4 will return to normal, and the T5 and T6 lines will once again run from Ciutadella to Glòries. However , construction will continue on Gran Via. The section of the T5 and T6 between Glòries and Sant Martí de Provençals will remain closed, and by the end of September, the closure will be reduced to the section between Glòries and Can Jaumandreu.
This final phase, which will affect some 240,000 passengers, will last until spring 2027, when the work—which has a budget of 32.54 million euros—is scheduled to be fully completed.
