In a joint announcement, the Catalan Government and the Barcelona City Council have revealed that the works for the extension of Metro Line 8 will start in January 2024.
However, this move is not without controversy, as it is expected to partially affect the Joan Miró Park in Eixample Esquerra.
Despite the concerns of neighborhood associations, which consider the measures taken to reduce the impact to be insufficient, the authorities have confirmed that the project will move forward.
The reduction of the area destined for materials and the planting of 118 trees instead of the initial 178 are the commitments adopted to mitigate the impact on the park.
Although this reduction is seen as insufficient by some neighborhood associations, the Government and the City Council consider it necessary to advance a project that will significantly connect several points of the city.
Subway Line 8 extension works to begin in January
Deployment of the infrastructure is expected to take around two and a half years, with the tunnel boring machine excavating a new four-kilometer channel between Plaza Espanya and Gràcia station.
The creation of three new stations (Gràcia, Clínic and Francesc Macià) and the adaptation of two others (Espanya and Gràcia) are part of this ambitious project.
Residents in the Eixample Esquerra have expressed their discontent, considering that the reduction of the affected area does not fully address their concerns. ”
It continues with the old approach that you can affect a park and some trees, while traffic is sacred and use the Fira also because it affects the economy,” according to Xavier Riu, of the neighborhood association of Eixample Esquerra.
The authorities have estimated that the occupation of the park will be gradual, reaching its peak around 2025, affecting approximately 5,300 square meters of green area.
Despite the concerns, the project’s defenders, from the Department of Territory, argue that this intervention is fundamental for the future mobility of the city.
The size of the project
The project aims to link the two branches of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC), transforming Line 8 into an essential part of Barcelona’s metro system.
The connection of the Baix Llobregat and Vallès branches, through four kilometers inside the city, is expected to generate a significant increase in demand, projected at 34%.
In addition, the creation of a station in the central area of Diagonal, at Francesc Macià, is a direct response to a high demand for the tramway in this area.
Despite the cost of 412 million euros and logistical complications, the Generalitat claims that the project will result in significant savings in CO2 emissions, estimated at 2,688 tons per year.
