Major works continue in Barcelona and now it is the turn of the Rovira Tunnel, one of the main shortcuts in the upper area of the city, which from March 23 will close the downhill lane for four months to allow the construction of three new evacuation galleries, essential to improve safety in case of emergency.
The tunnel has been closed at night since December for cleaning and inspection work, but the closure now will affect 18,000 vehicles a day that travel along this road from Horta towards Gracia, in the direction of the sea.
The City Council has informed the neighborhood associations and will launch a communication campaign with posters, media announcements, traffic information panels and the distribution of 40,000 leaflets to drivers passing through the area.
Alternative routes to the Rovira Tunnel in sea direction
The Rovira Tunnel is a key route because it allows to cut under the Turó del Carmel and connect the Eixample and Gràcia with the neighborhoods of Horta or Vall d’Hebron, quickly reaching the Ronda de Dalt.
Now, with the closure of the tunnel, the City Council has designed several alternative routes for vehicles that want to make this route, ensuring that these alternatives should allow to maintain smoothly the connection between the north and the center of the city.
- Exits 3 and 4 of the Ronda de Dalt: From exits 3 and 4 of the Ronda de Dalt, it is recommended to circulate along Plaça de Karl Marx, Passeig de Valldaura, Plaça de la República, Passeig de Verdum, Pi i Molist, Avinguda dels Quinze and Passeig de Maragall.
- Exit 6 of the Ronda de Dalt: From exit 6 of the Ronda de Dalt, traffic will be diverted to Avinguda de la República Argentina or Carrer d’Esteve Terrades, connecting with Avinguda de Vallcarca.
- Avinguda de l’Estatut: There is also another route from Avinguda de l’Estatut to Passeig de Maragall, crossing carrer de Lisboa and carrer Tajo.
Effects on public transport
There will be three bus lines whose usual routes will be affected and whose service will be reinforced to avoid major disruptions.
- V21: It will be diverted along Passeig de Maragall, losing two stops in Rambla del Carmel and gaining a new one in Carrer de Dante.
- Line 102: It will move its origin and end stop to Passeig de Maragall.
- Bus de Barri 112: It will maintain a stop in front of the CAP and will relocate its head end to carrer de Porto.