For residents of a particular stretch of Carrer d’Espronceda in Barcelona’s El Clot neighbourhood, the last three months have been a curious cycle of noise, dust, and déjà vu. The same section of pavement, running between Carrer de Múrcia and the junction with Carrer del Clot and Carrer de Mallorca, has been dug up, laid, and then dug up again on three separate occasions, leaving many to question the efficiency of the city’s public works planning.
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The saga began in late 2023 when workers first arrived to repair the pavement. Initially, the works were a welcome sight. The surface had long been deteriorated, with uneven sections that made walking difficult. However, the satisfaction of a freshly laid pavement was short-lived. Just days later, residents were dismayed to see their new walkway being torn up once more.
The pattern repeated itself again in February. “We almost couldn’t believe it,” one resident told reporters, explaining that the third round of works on the exact same spot prompted him to seek answers from the Barcelona City Council.
Council Cites ‘Distinct’ Reasons
In response to enquiries, municipal sources acknowledged that the three projects “coincided in a short period of time” but were undertaken for different reasons, according to reporting by El Periódico. The first intervention was classified as an “urgent” repair to address the pavement’s poor condition.
The city’s water company, Aigües de Barcelona, carried out the second project, digging a trench to renew the local water supply network. The third and most recent round of works was part of the city-wide ‘Pla Endreça’, a municipal plan for public space maintenance. This final phase involved a more comprehensive renovation of the pavement, including accessibility improvements and the reconstruction of tree pits.
Frustration Over ‘Lack of Planning’
For those living with the repeated disruption, this explanation highlights a significant “lack of planning” by the city’s administration. They argue that with proper coordination, the three separate jobs could have been consolidated into a single, more efficient project, saving both public money and local patience. Such disruptions are a recurring theme in a city constantly undergoing transformation, from major transport projects like the L8 metro line works to local renewal schemes.
“What is difficult to accept is that the council, in a context where economic budgets are of great importance, assumes the cost of a similar action three times due to a lack of coordinated planning,” the resident stated.
A Pledge for Better Coordination
City officials have assured the public that they are taking steps to prevent similar situations from happening again. Mayor Jaume Collboni recently met with Barcelona’s main utility companies-covering water, gas, electricity, and telecommunications-to “improve and optimise the coordination” of works in the public domain.
According to the council, the meeting resulted in an agreement for all parties to share their work schedules. The goal is to concentrate interventions and reduce costly and disruptive duplications. This commitment to a more integrated urban strategy reflects a broader focus on Barcelona’s urban formula, which aims for smarter and more sustainable city management.
Meanwhile, on Carrer d’Espronceda, residents are simply hoping that their third new pavement will be the last for the foreseeable future. With other local projects, such as the long-awaited restoration of Clot Park’s historic facades, on the horizon, the community is keen to see the council’s new collaborative approach put into practice.
