The tunnel boring machine for Barcelona's L9 and L10 metro lines will restart operations in the coming days, aiming to reach Lesseps Square within one year, Catalan territory minister Sílvia Paneque announced on Monday morning during a visit to the site.
The machine has been inactive since August 2024 after sustaining damage while drilling toward the future Mandri station at the intersection of Mandri and Bonanova streets in the Sant Gervasi neighbourhood.
Paneque stated that resuming work will allow authorities to establish "clear deadlines" for completion. The planned opening of the 3.6-kilometre stretch between La Sagrera TV and Guinardó | Hospital Sant Pau stations remains on track for the end of 2027.
Residents Still Evacuated After Sinkhole
A sinkhole that opened on 7 July in the Sant Gervasi–la Bonanova area led to the evacuation of 93 homes across buildings on Carrer de Rubinstein, Carrer de Teodora Lamadrid and Carrer de Sant Gervasi de Cassoles, according to Barcelona City Council.
As of one week after the incident, residents remained displaced and were not expected to return before Friday, ARA reported. The city's social emergencies service, CUESB, assisted 85 people during the response.
It is clear that the residents have no responsibility in this.
Paneque, in an interview on TV3's "Els matins", said the Generalitat and Barcelona City Council would continue covering temporary housing and did not rule out further compensation. "We will do whatever it takes," she said, adding that responsibilities would be assessed once the technical investigation concludes.
Investigation Points to Insufficient Concrete Injection
The primary hypothesis for the sinkhole's cause is that a cavity formed during drilling did not receive sufficient concrete injection, allowing it to surface, Paneque said. Experts cited by ARA suggested the tunnel boring machine may have created a "chimney" due to an operational incident.
Technicians continue monitoring ground stability beneath affected buildings using sensors, which so far show the situation is stabilising. However, inspections are ongoing to rule out further hidden cavities.
During the repair and assessment phase, the tunnel boring machine operated intermittently, pausing during technical checks to avoid interference with measurements and advancing slowly toward pre-planned stop points.
Paneque confirmed the route for the remaining L9 works will not be altered.
Reported by elpais.com, catalannews.com, barna.news, ARA, okdiario.com, Gerard Pruna, Natàlia Vila, Pere Roca Soler, Jordi Borràs / ACN, Clara Blanchar, es.openprocurements.com, Rubén González, lavanguardia.com.
