Barcelona wants a new Montjuïc. Or at least that is the grand plan that the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, presented this Wednesday. In 2035, the new Montjuïc will be greener, have more social housing, more public transport and a complete remodeling of the urban space.
The project is based on four fundamental pillars: housing, with the construction of more than 12,000 homes in the Marina del Prat Vermell, half of which will be subsidized, and 500 new homes in the area between Paral-lel and Avinguda de Rius i Taulet; the extension of metro L2; the reconfiguration of the 92 Olympic Ring; and the recovery of green spaces and gardens in the mountain area.
These are, in detail, all the projects that the Barcelona City Council has planned for the next 10 years in Montjuïc:
Plaça Espanya pedestrianization project.
One of the star projects will be the creation of a large pedestrian axis in Plaça Espanya, which will be carried out after the completion of the works on the L8 metro line. The budget is 10 million euros, with the aim of connecting the fountain with the rest of the area by means of a pedestrian access.
Renovation of the Fira de Barcelona and the new Poble-sec
The Fira de Barcelona will be modernized, from the renovation of the pavilions to the creation of a new Palau de Congressos and the conversion of Avinguda Maria Cristina into a pedestrian walkway.
In parallel, 500 subsidized housing units, a municipal sports center and a new primary health care center (CAP) will be built in the area between Paral-lel and Rius i Taulet. In total, 460 million euros over the next decade.
Rehabilitation of the Anella Olímpica
The Anella Olímpica, one of the symbols of the city since 1992, will have an investment of 370 million euros over the next five years to expand the Sant Jordi Club hall for concerts for up to 8,000 spectators, modernize the Palau Sant Jordi and redesign the Olympic Stadium.
The stadium esplanade will be transformed into a civic space with more trees, rest areas and gastronomic spaces.
More gardens
Over the next two years, the historic gardens of Montjuïc, created in 1929, such as the Laribal, Teatre Grec and Umbracle gardens, will be restored with an investment of 8.8 million euros. In addition, the phreatic water network will be expanded with an investment of 7 million euros, allowing significant savings in drinking water in the city.
Transformation of the Morrot
The 4-kilometer-long Morrot area will also be revamped to improve the relationship between the city and the port, with the creation of new roads for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.
The first phase will be completed in 2027 with a budget of 10 million euros, and in 2035 the Litoral ring road will be extended with an investment of 98 million euros, transforming it into a pedestrian and bicycle promenade.
The arrival of the metro to Montjuïc
The extension of Metro Line 2 to Montjuïc will connect the city center with the Anella Olímpica, the MNAC and the Fira, and will make it possible to connect with Line 9 to the airport.
Meanwhile, bus transport will be reinforced with the new line X3 and the renovation of line 150, which will be called “Montjuïc Bus”.
Boost to the Marina del Prat Vermell and surrounding neighborhoods
The Marina del Prat Vermell neighborhood, which currently has 2,600 inhabitants, will be expanded to 12,000 with the construction of 12,000 housing units, half of which will be subsidized. 338 million euros will be earmarked over the next 10 years for its development, including new parks and facilities.
In parallel, investment will be made in the renovation of the Zona Franca promenade, the Tres Xemeneies and Poble-sec, with a total investment of more than 75 million euros.