For two years, major construction has brought noise, dust, and disruption to residents and merchants on Carrer de Vila i Vilà in Barcelona’s vibrant Poble-sec neighbourhood. A long-overdue infrastructure project has transformed the street into an obstacle course, severely testing local businesses. Now, with the completion date stretching to 2026, many are calling for urgent municipal intervention.
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The works, focusing on installing a new water collector, form part of a critical, €18.85 million plan to resolve historical flooding issues that long plagued the lower Paral·lel area. While the project’s necessity is undisputed, its prolonged nature exacts a heavy toll on the local economy in this corner of the Sants-Montjuïc district, an area traditionally known for its nightlife and bars.
Businesses on the Brink
The first phase of construction began in 2023, with the street facing full impact since April 2024. For local businesses, the consequences have been dire. Daniel Fernández, administrator of the Abirradero brewery and the Institut de Cervesa Artesana, has emerged as a leading voice for the affected merchants, launching a platform called “Abirradero Injusticia” to coordinate their demands.
“With the start of the works, we lost our terrace, which is 40% of our capacity,” Fernández explained to ElNacional.cat. “So, from minute zero, we already lost that capacity.” The upheaval has made accessing shops and residential buildings a daily challenge, further complicated by frequent power cuts, water supply problems, constant noise, and dust.
Fernández estimates his business losses have already surpassed one million euros. “As a business, you can endure this situation for a month, or two, or three, but we’ve been like this for two years now,” he lamented, noting he has already laid off seven employees. “We have reached an unsustainable point, regardless of savings or mitigation efforts.”
The protest platform reports that several businesses on the street have already closed, with others experiencing revenue drops of up to 65%. The struggle on Carrer de Vila i Vilà reflects a wider concern for the survival of local commerce across the city. Recent high-profile closures, such as Gràcia’s Cafè Reunión and a historic espadrille shop in the same district, underscore the fragile state of Barcelona’s traditional retail fabric.
A Neighbourhood Under Strain
The disruption extends beyond commerce. For residents, the daily grind of navigating the construction site has led to falls. Residents also complain of increased rats and cockroaches, a common side effect of extensive excavation work. The project has also impacted public transport; the popular Montjuïc Funicular suspended service for five months from late 2025 to early 2026 because of the works, forcing commuters and tourists onto shuttle buses.
“The works have to be done, we have no doubt about that,” Fernández clarified, insisting the municipal government must act responsibly to prevent the loss of local commerce. His primary demand is for solutions or compensation to help businesses survive until the project’s completion.
“We are asking the administration to prevent these businesses from closing or to compensate them,” he stated. He fears that if local, independent shops fail, they will be replaced by opportunistic “vulture funds, waiting to take advantage if we leave.”
City Hall’s Response
In response to the complaints, sources from the Barcelona City Council told ElNacional.cat they are taking measures to minimise the impact. These include information campaigns and special subsidy programmes to support businesses in areas affected by long-term works. Similar large-scale projects, such as the Meridiana flood defence works, often include similar support measures.
The city also noted that fees for terraces and vehicle access points are waived when they cannot be used. They added that terraces were temporarily restored for three months in 2025 during a phase when compatible with the construction activity.
The City Council maintains that the works are scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026. In the meantime, officials state they remain “in contact with the merchants of Poble-sec and are open to studying new ways to support businesses in areas with long-term construction.”
For the beleaguered businesses of Carrer de Vila i Vilà, however, 2026 feels a long way off. With their livelihoods hanging in the balance, they are hoping for more concrete support to help them weather the storm.
