Neighbourhood groups in Barcelona’s Nou Barris and Sant Andreu districts are calling for the Meridiana Avenue reform to move faster. They say the project is about historical repair, health and a better city for residents.
Àlex Labad, first vice-president of the Federation of Neighbourhood Associations of Barcelona (FAVB), said they do not want the same mistake made 60 years ago to be repeated. He was referring to the avenue’s original construction without resident consultation. Labad also welcomed the preliminary project’s extension to the Sarajevo bridge.
Paco Flórez, from the Community platform Trinitat per la mateixa via, asked for the works to be used to widen the Sarajevo bridge. The neighbourhood groups say that would create about 1,500 square metres of new public space and improve movement between the two sides of Meridiana.
Meridiana Avenue is one of Barcelona’s key roads, linking the city centre with its northern districts and beyond. Residents say its original layout put vehicle traffic first and left a barrier between communities, including Trinitat Vella and Trinitat Nova in Nou Barris, and parts of Sant Andreu.
The reform aims to turn the road into a more pedestrian-friendly urban boulevard. Supporters say that would cut pollution and noise, while improving daily life for thousands of people in the area.
The push from these organisations shows how local groups in Barcelona are still shaping the city’s urban planning debate. For more on local sport and neighbourhood coverage, see our Sport and Community pages.
Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
