The Barcelona City Council has begun installing the city's first mechanical ramp on Carrer Poesía in the Montbau neighbourhood, a €7.34 million project aimed at solving long-standing mobility challenges in the steep Horta-Guinardó district.
The ramp, located on the Besòs side of Carrer Poesía between Passeig de Vall d'Hebron and Carrer Vayreda, addresses a sustained 10% incline that has historically hindered pedestrian access. Works began in February 2026 and are expected to last 18 months, with completion scheduled for summer 2027.
Mayor Jaume Collboni described the project during a site visit as one of the city’s most emblematic initiatives, not for its scale or cost, but for its significance in improving cohesion and mobility in mountain neighbourhoods.
This is the spine of Montbau, connecting all levels of the neighbourhood.
Collboni explained that while previous efforts in hilly areas focused on escalators, this marks the first installation of a mechanical ramp in Barcelona. He highlighted that the decision reflects the city’s commitment under the Pla de Barris, a major public investment programme that now includes mountain districts due to their unique topography and ageing populations.
Urban Improvements Alongside Accessibility
Beyond the ramp, the project includes broader urban upgrades. Pavements will be widened and repaired, street lighting renewed, and vehicle parking reorganised across the entire stretch of Carrer Poesía.
The intervention also features a covered pergola structure inspired by traditional olive-harvesting systems, incorporating poetic motifs as a tribute to the street’s name. This artistic addition accounts for an extra €1 million of the total €8.34 million budget.
Residents will be able to use the ramp exclusively for ascending, with a width of one metre to accommodate wheelchairs, pushchairs, and pedestrians.
Primary sources: Ramon. Reported by europapress.es, Judith Cutrona, Metrópoli, Jordi Palmer, Jordi Subirana, Raquel Navarro.
