Locals know that walking up Carrer Poesia, in Montbau, has always been more of an endurance sport than a walk: a street with a 10% gradient that is essential for the neighborhood but demanding for twins. But that will change soon: the neighborhood will debut the first mechanical ramp for pedestrians in Barcelona, and we already know when.
The project not only aims to facilitate the ascent. It also includes the renovation of sidewalks, lighting and walkways, and will force a complete rearrangement of traffic on the street. An uphill lane for cars will be eliminated, which will now only be able to go down most of the stretch. The goal: to make the street more comfortable and walkable for those who walk it every day.
What the city’s first mechanical pedestrian ramp will look like.
The ramp will run for more than 200 meters with a 10% slope from Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron to Vayreda Street, with separate sections to respect accesses, gardens and houses. But it will allow, for the first time, to climb the slope without sweating.
The works were announced last year, but will start in January 2026 and, if all goes according to plan, will be finished in the summer of 2027.
As is often the case, improving accessibility will also entail some sacrifices. In total, 41 car parking spaces will disappear, although 11 will be gained for motorcycles and a loading and unloading area. The city council assures that it will try to preserve as much vegetation as possible, although it will have to juggle on an already narrow sidewalk.
The on-demand bus line 135, which currently runs along Poesia, will lose three stops during the works. In exchange, a new one will be created to maintain service in the area. And since history is also a factor, there will be archaeologists monitoring the works, in case there is a discovery under the ground (as has happened before in the area).