Barcelona’s city council will begin road safety improvements next Monday, 19 October, at the intersection of Carrer de Selva de Mar and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in the Sant Martí district, following a surge in vehicle collisions. The works, expected to last one week and conclude before the end of October, aim to reduce accidents at what was identified as the city’s most dangerous junction in 2025, with 18 recorded crashes that year.

According to data from the city’s mobility department, the same number of collisions had already occurred by mid-October 2026, despite two and a half months still remaining in the year. Eleven crashes were recorded by mid-April, with seven more since then. All injuries sustained in these incidents were minor, the council confirmed.

The upcoming modifications will move the stop line forward by approximately three metres on Selva de Mar at the junction with Gran Via. This change, anticipated as early as July 2026, is designed to increase vehicle accumulation space and improve turning safety. The council has already updated signage and removed outdated indicators at the site in earlier safety efforts.

During the week-long works, road resurfacing will be carried out, temporarily affecting traffic flow. The council states that vehicle passage will be maintained at all times except during final paving operations.

Speed Radar to Go Live in April

A fixed radar system is also set to become operational at the junction in April 2027, as part of a broader enforcement strategy to deter dangerous driving. The city council confirmed that preliminary planning for the radar installation is currently underway.

Crashes at the junction are frequently linked to drivers disregarding mandatory turn lanes. The upper lanes on Gran Via offer conflicting movement options: one allows only left turns, while the middle lane permits either a left turn onto Selva de Mar or continuing straight towards Glòries. Incorrect manoeuvres risk head-on collisions with adjacent traffic.

“We are late, but at least they are doing something,” said Edorta Moreno, spokesperson for the Gran Via Neighbors Association.

Moreno warned that the 2026 collision count already matches the total for 2025: “We just need someone to die. The fact that we are the hub of accidents in Barcelona shows that we are late.”

Traffic Light Review Underway Citywide

The city is also assessing whether to adjust traffic light phasing at the intersection. The current configuration allows a flashing yellow light for vehicles alongside a green light for pedestrians, a setup now prohibited under the new General Traffic Regulations effective from 1 October 2026. The regulations aim to eliminate simultaneous vehicle and pedestrian right-of-way to prevent confusion.

The council is evaluating technical justifications for maintaining the flashing yellow light at certain intersections, arguing that new phases could worsen congestion on key routes. This review forms part of a wider study covering 1,550 intersections across Barcelona, as detailed in the city’s official mobility report published on 2 February 2026.

Primary sources: Ajuntament de Barcelona. Reported by elperiodico.cat, elperiodico.com, El Periódico (CA).