Work has begun on a new cycle path along Avinguda Diagonal, creating a much-anticipated strategic link between the municipalities of Esplugues de Llobregat and Barcelona. The project began on Monday, 16 March, representing a €3.1 million investment, and should take six months to complete.
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The new infrastructure will bridge a significant gap in the metropolitan cycling network, connecting axes 7 and 4 of the Bicivia plan. Crucially, it will provide the first strategic cycle connection to the site of the new Hospital Clínic. The path will run along the sea-facing side of Diagonal, linking the entrance of the University of Barcelona’s sports zone with the Finestrelles-Can Vidalet area of Esplugues and the northern neighbourhoods of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, such as Pubilla Casas and La Florida.
A Shared Investment in Sustainable Mobility
The Governing Board of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) approved the project last December, marking a collaborative financial effort. El Periódico reports that Barcelona City Council will contribute €1.4 million for constructing the section within its municipal boundary, reflecting the higher complexity of the work in that area.
The remaining €1.7 million for the Esplugues section is co-funded. The AMB finances 70% through its Territorial Cohesion Action Plan (PACTE), while the Esplugues de Llobregat council covers the remaining 30%. The works will create 400 metres of new path, featuring a 2.5-metre-wide pedestrian walkway alongside a 3-metre-wide bidirectional bike lane, both situated on a single, integrated platform.
Expected Disruptions for Drivers and Athletes
While initial construction phases should not affect traffic, commuters must prepare for significant disruptions from early May. Between 1 May and 16 September, one lane will close in both directions on the slip road from the Ronda de Dalt ring road onto Diagonal.
Additionally, authorities have scheduled two complete overnight traffic closures on the exit 11 slip road. The first closure will happen for one night in early May, with a second scheduled for early September. The University of Barcelona’s sports facilities will also be impacted; the rugby pitch will be partially out of use between 31 May and 1 September to accommodate construction.
Fostering a Cycle-Friendly Metropolis
Officials from both municipalities laud the project as a key step forward in promoting sustainable transport. Upon project approval, Laia Bonet, Deputy Mayor of Barcelona City Council, stated the connection aligns with the city’s policy of “boosting connections with the city’s cycling axes, in this case the Diagonal, to be able to reach the centre of Barcelona and the different cycling networks of the neighbourhoods.”
Her counterpart, Eduard Sanz, Mayor of Esplugues, described the new bike lane as “decisive for reinforcing sustainable mobility and metropolitan connections.”
Furthermore, this development forms part of a broader regional push to improve cycling infrastructure. It complements the AMB’s major cycling promotion strategy and the Generalitat’s ambitious plan to build 500km of new bike lanes across Catalonia. As more residents switch to two-wheeled transport, demand for safe, connected routes between Barcelona and its surrounding towns continues to grow.
