Construction has commenced on Barcelona’s Avinguda Meridiana on a major infrastructure project designed to bolster the city’s defences against flooding caused by torrential rain. The year-long works, with a budget of approximately six million euros, will focus on upgrading a key water collector in the system near Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes.

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The primary goal is to increase the hydraulic capacity of the city’s drainage network, a critical step as Barcelona adapts to the more frequent and intense rainfall events associated with climate change. According to reports from betevé, the existing collector on Avinguda Meridiana often becomes saturated during heavy downpours, accumulating more water than it can evacuate and leading to a risk of surface flooding.

An Underground Engineering Solution

The core of the project involves the construction of a sophisticated hydraulic siphon. This new structure will connect the overburdened Meridiana collector with a nearby one on Carrer dels Escultors Claperós in the El Clot neighbourhood, which typically has spare capacity during storms. The city council explained in a statement that this intervention will “balance the functioning” of the system, allowing excess water to be automatically diverted.

The engineering challenge is significant. The siphon will consist of two large wells connected by a tube that must be excavated deep beneath three existing railway and metro tunnels that cross the area. This complex underground work is centred on the intersection of Avinguda Meridiana and Carrer d’Independència.

Traffic Diversions and Local Impact

The initial phase of construction will bring considerable changes to local traffic flow. Work will be concentrated on the Llobregat side (south-west) of Carrer d’Independència, between Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes and Avinguda Meridiana. As a result, vehicle circulation will be rerouted to the Besòs side (north-east) of the street.

The new configuration will feature a dedicated bus lane heading towards the sea and two general traffic lanes running towards the mountains. Barcelona’s City Council has confirmed that while part of the pavement on the Llobregat side will be occupied by the works, pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Part of a Broader City Strategy

This major sewerage project is not an isolated effort. It is being carried out in coordination with two other significant urban renewal projects in the vicinity: the ongoing redevelopment of Plaça de les Glòries and improvements to the Trambesòs tramway line. This integrated approach is a hallmark of the city’s current urban planning philosophy, aiming to minimise disruption by bundling major works together.

Furthermore, the initiative is a key component of the city’s Comprehensive Sanitation Master Plan (PDISBA), a wide-ranging programme with a budget of over 150 million euros. The plan directly supports the objectives of Barcelona’s Pla Clima (Climate Plan), which seeks to make the city more resilient to the future challenges posed by the climate crisis.