15m for Noise Barriers Near Hospitals Leaves L'Hospitalet

15m for Noise Barriers Near Hospitals Leaves L'Hospitalet Without Date

A €15.14 million project to install acoustic screens on major highways near hospitals and universities in Barcelona province has left work in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat without a confirmed start date.

Laia Serra · 2 Sep 2026 · 2 min read

Highway Noise Reduction Project Underway in Barcelona Province

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has launched a €15.14 million tender for acoustic screens along 9.2 kilometres of the A-2, B-10, and B-30 highways in the Barcelona area. The project aims to reduce traffic noise near sensitive sites including Bellvitge Hospital and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Works are planned on three key routes. On the A-2, between kilometres 592.4 and 595.3 near Sant Andreu de la Barca, the project includes sound-absorbing pavement and barriers on both sides of the road. On the B-30, screens will be installed between kilometres 4.5 and 9.4, affecting areas near Hospital Asepeyo, the UAB, and Bellaterra in Cerdanyola del Vallès. The B-10 section, between kilometres 18 and 19.4, runs adjacent to Bellvitge Hospital in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.

No Start Date for L'Hospitalet Works

Despite being included in the project, the timeline for the B-10 works in L'Hospitalet remains undefined. The Ministry has not specified when construction will begin or how long it will last, even though the goal is to reduce noise pollution around Bellvitge Hospital.

These actions are part of the Ministry's Noise Action Plans to reduce the harmful effects of road infrastructure, funded through the EU’s Next Generation programme under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

The contract includes additional measures such as replacing safety barriers, modifying affected services, and managing construction waste. The project follows case-by-case assessments to determine where noise mitigation is most needed.

Focus on Urban Health and Sustainability

Environmental noise is a recognised public health concern, particularly in urban areas near major transport corridors. Research from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona highlights citizen-led monitoring of acoustic conditions, air quality, and biodiversity in high-impact zones. The current infrastructure project aligns with broader efforts to improve urban living conditions near highways. Residents near Bellvitge Hospital have long reported high noise levels from the B-10. While the installation of acoustic screens offers a potential solution, the lack of a confirmed schedule delays relief for local communities.

Primary sources: inventariarxiu.l-h.cat. Reported by apdnoticies.com, portalrecerca.uab.cat, metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, lavanguardia.com, en.ara.cat, sibhilla.uab.cat, elpuntavui.cat.