Barcelona City Council will implement significant street closures in the Gràcia and Sants districts this weekend, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, from 09:00 to 20:00. These measures will severely restrict vehicle access on major arteries, affecting traffic flow and public transport routes across both busy areas.

The 'Obrim Carrers' (We Open Streets) programme aims to reallocate road space to pedestrians, reducing private vehicle mobility on principal city roads. This initiative will specifically close Gran de Gràcia and the Creu Coberta-Sants axis to most vehicular traffic.

Gràcia Bus Diversions

Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) confirmed that these closures will necessitate changes to several bus lines. In Gràcia, lines V17, 22, 24, and 114 will modify their itineraries. TMB advises passengers to use the metro, specifically the Diagonal (L3/L5), Fontana (L3), or Lesseps (L3) stations.

For the Gran de Gràcia area, buses travelling uphill from Plaça del Cinc d'Oros will divert via Avinguda Diagonal, Via Augusta, and Avinguda de la Riera de Cassoles. They will then continue to Plaça Lesseps. Additionally, line 114 faces further disruption due to a 'Comerç al carrer' (Street Commerce) event, according to Sants district. It will avoid Carrer Ros de Olano, Via Augusta, and Travessera de Gràcia.

Sants Transport Changes

The Creu Coberta-Sants axis will see diversions for bus lines D20 and V5. Line D20, heading towards Plaça Espanya, will reroute through Avinguda de Madrid, Carrers de Berlín, Numància, and Tarragona. In the opposite direction, towards Carrer de Sants, it will divert via Tarragona, Plaça dels Països Catalans, and Passeig de Sant Antoni. It will then use Carrer Comtes de Bell-Lloc and Avinguda de Madrid.

Line V5, travelling towards Mare de Déu de Port, will divert via Passeig de Sant Antoni, Carrer de Tarragona, and Carrer Consell de Cent. TMB recommends using alternative bus lines D20, D40, H8, H10, H12, H16, V1, V3, V5, V7, 13, 46, 54, 65, 79, 91, 109, 115, and 157. Passengers can also use the metro. Recommended metro stations include Collblanc (L9S/L10S/L5), Badal (L5), Plaça de Sants (L1/L5), Hostafrancs (L1), and Espanya (L1/L3).

City's Pedestrianisation Strategy

These weekend closures form part of the Barcelona City Council's ongoing strategy to prioritise pedestrians and reduce the dominance of private vehicles. The previous municipal government under Ada Colau significantly expanded such initiatives. These included "pacifications" of streets and reductions in on-street parking. The 'Obrim Carrers' programme aims to create more accessible and enjoyable public spaces for residents and visitors. However, it also requires careful planning for those who rely on public transport or need to drive. The city's goal is to enhance urban liveability.

Permitted Vehicle Access

During the 'Obrim Carrers' events, only specific vehicles may access the closed routes to ensure public safety. These include municipal service vehicles, emergency services, and vehicles for loading and unloading goods. Residents heading to private car parks within the affected zones also retain access. Additionally, users of rotation parking facilities, taxis responding to emergencies, and vehicles transporting individuals with reduced mobility can enter. Bicycles and scooters can use these routes. However, their riders must respect pedestrian priority and maintain a maximum speed of 10 kilometres per hour.

Barcelona City Council and TMB will continue to provide updates on these temporary traffic modifications. Residents and tourists should plan their journeys accordingly, considering the recommended metro alternatives for travel through Gràcia and Sants this weekend.

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Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life. Read original article.