Daily Dust Clouds and Health Fears

Every morning, residents of streets adjacent to the La Sagrera railway development in Barcelona are met with thick clouds of dust as construction vehicles move earth for the expanding Rodalies network. On Berenguer de Palou and Josep Soldevila streets, fine particulate matter from excavation work drifts into homes, coating surfaces and worsening respiratory conditions. Ana, a local resident with allergies, told Infobarris she now lives “with an inhaler and medication” due to persistent exposure. Others describe daily frustration at having to seal windows and clean constantly. The situation is especially concerning given the proximity to the La Sagrera pediatric and gynecology CAP (Primary Care Center), where vulnerable patients require clean air.

The dust fills parts of our homes, and this causes us suffering, anger, and frustration.

Metallic Particles and Screeching Trains

In addition to earth dust, residents report metallic particles being emitted from exposed train tracks near the Sant Adrià bridge. These tracks remain uncovered alongside a fenced area that has accumulated debris for two decades. As trains pass every 10 minutes, their brakes emit a sharp screech that reverberates through nearby apartments. Gabriel, another affected neighbour, said the combination of neglect and noise makes residents feel like “second-class citizens.” During summer, when windows must stay open for ventilation, Ana said she slept no more than three hours per night.

Construction Oversight and Mitigation Efforts

The project is managed by Barcelona Sagrera Alta Velocitat (BSAV) and Adif, the national rail infrastructure agency. According to Adif's official plan, the works form part of a broader €68 million investment to integrate conventional-gauge lines (R2 and R11) into the new underground corridor beneath La Sagrera, improving urban connectivity between Sagrera, Sant Martí, and Sant Andreu. Funding comes from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU programme. However, neither BSAV nor Adif have responded to specific complaints about dust and noise raised by Infobarris. The Sant Andreu district government confirmed that “the results of pollution reports will be known during September” and that periodic watering and cleaning of dust are currently underway. Affected residents have dismissed these measures as “meagre and insufficient.”

Reported by beteve.cat, adif.es, betevé.