Barcelona City Council has initiated the tender process for a new pedestrian access to Ciutadella Park, which will create a direct path through the Barcelona Zoo from Wellington Street. This long-awaited infrastructure project will finally link the Sant Martí and Ciutat Vella districts, overcoming over 150 years of isolation.

The tender, published last Tuesday, seeks a construction company for works estimated at over €9.4 million, excluding VAT. The total estimated contract value reaches €11.3 million. This significant undertaking involves constructing an elevated walkway and an underpass, allowing visitors to traverse the zoo grounds. Mayor Jaume Collboni highlighted the project’s importance, stating before Easter, “The walkway, which will open next year, will be the first significant change for the future expansion of the Parliament.”

The new access point is crucial for the planned expansion of the Parliament of Catalonia, located within Ciutadella Park. It will serve as a direct link between the current Parliament building and a new annex, which will occupy the former stables of the Guardia Urbana. Parliamentary sources indicate the full expansion project for the Catalan Chamber could take approximately eight years, according to Official Barcelona Zoo Website. However, the Parliament must first find a provisional solution for its current 200-space car park near Plaça Joan Fiveller, directly at the new access point’s destination.

Connecting Barcelona’s Districts

The project covers an area of 14,961 square metres, primarily within the Barcelona Zoo, with a small section extending into the park and a side of the Guardia Urbana stables. This new pedestrian route will allow residents and visitors to walk directly between Sant Martí and Ciutat Vella districts without circumnavigating the historic park. The executive project received approval from Mayor Jaume Collboni’s government in January. The municipal company BSM is managing the selection of a construction firm, with interested parties having one month to submit their bids.

Animal Welfare Protocols

The construction will necessitate the dismantling or adaptation of several Barcelona Zoo installations. These include the primate gallery and habitats for endangered lesser grey shrikes, Iberian wolves, bongos, red pandas, dama gazelles, and Chilean flamingos. A detailed animal welfare protocol, dated February 2026, accompanies the tender documents. This protocol mandates that all work within the Zoo must consider animals’ sensitivity to vibrations, sound frequencies, chemical odours, and noise. Contractors must submit an impact study before commencing any work. Zoo officials will supervise and endorse this study. Significant disruptions require a minimum of 15 days’ notice. Additionally, contractors must provide a weekly Excel sheet detailing all planned work for the following seven days. This allows for appropriate mitigation measures.

Project Timeline and Delays

The works have an estimated completion period of 17 months. This schedule places the project’s finish in late 2027 or early 2028. This represents a six-month delay from previous announcements. Consequently, the inauguration will not occur before the municipal elections in 2027.

A Decades-Long Vision Realised

The concept of a Wellington to Picasso promenade was part of Josep Fontseré’s original design for Ciutadella Park in the late 19th century. However, half of this proposed route was removed in the 1950s to expand the Zoo. The project faced significant political hurdles, remaining dormant for over a decade. Former Mayor Xavier Trias first announced the work, even proposing to name it after primatologist Jordi Sabaté Pi. However, opposition from the Zoo’s works council and six neighbourhood associations, including the FAVB, led to its shelving in 2014. During Ada Colau’s two terms as mayor, discussions focused on the Zoo’s future plan rather than its perimeter.

Revitalising Ciutadella Park

With a new political climate, Barcelona Regional drafted a new Master Plan for Ciutadella Park in 2023 and the Barcelona Zoo Master Plan in 2024. These plans paved the way for the Wellington Street access. Mayor Collboni announced the project’s revival in January 2025. This forms part of a broader initiative to re-establish Ciutadella Park and its surroundings as a hub for research and culture. This shared objective among public and scientific institutions includes diverse projects, from rehabilitating the Castell dels Tres Dragons to establishing a pioneering precision medicine centre on the former Mercat del Peix site.

The successful completion of this tender will mark a pivotal step in reconnecting Barcelona’s urban fabric and advancing the strategic development of Ciutadella Park as a key civic and scientific asset for the city.

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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.