Temporary reopening due to metro works

The 'Obrim Carrers' initiative in Barcelona's Sants-Montjuïc district will temporarily reverse part of its weekend pedestrianisation from late 2026. The stretch of Carrer de Sants between Plaça de Sants and Rambla Badal will reopen to vehicles until 2028 to accommodate ongoing metro adaptation works at Plaça de Sants, according to the Ajuntament de Barcelona. This change is necessary to maintain access for the H10 bus route, which will no longer be able to complete its usual turn at Plaça de Sants during construction. Instead, the bus will terminate at Rambla Badal and run along Carrer de Sants, preserving existing stops while adding new ones.

Council decision follows public consultation

Raquel Gil, councillor for the Sants-Montjuïc district, confirmed the decision after evaluating multiple proposals and holding information sessions with residents. The council concluded that reopening the road was the best solution to ensure accessibility without delaying the metro project. Barcelona en Comú proposed a shared pedestrian-bus lane on weekends, but the council rejected it citing safety concerns. "All security, civil protection, and Guàrdia Urbana elements tell us that this is not possible," Gil stated. Residents have expressed mixed reactions. Some support the temporary measure as a necessary adjustment. "We know it will be inconvenient, but if it's necessary, it's done, and it's temporary," said Marcela, a local resident. Others oppose the change. Pere, another resident, called it "a change for the worse," noting benefits for shopkeepers and community life under the current scheme. Núria, who uses the space regularly, said the pedestrian zone has improved her weekend routine: "Now I spend more time here and buy more than before."

Implementation expected before year-end

While no exact start date has been set, the City Council aims to implement the change before the end of 2026 and will inform residents in advance. The goal is to avoid delays to the metro works, which include accessibility upgrades at the L5 station and wider redevelopment of Plaça de Sants as detailed on Info Barcelona. The Obrim Carrers programme, introduced during the pandemic, currently closes the Creu Coberta–Carrer de Sants corridor to traffic every weekend (except summer holidays) from 09:00 to 20:00 between Plaça Espanya and Carrer Munné.

Primary sources: Ajuntament de Barcelona, ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Servei de premsa Ajuntament de Barcelona, barcelona.cat. Reported by el3.cat.