Reconstruction of Badalona's Pont del Petroli has entered a new stage after a floating work platform was moved into position on Friday 17 July, allowing contractors to carry out much of the rehabilitation from the sea.

The pier has been closed since it was severely damaged by Storm Gloria in 2020. For residents and visitors to Platja del Pont del Petroli, the installation signals visible progress on a structure that has remained inaccessible, although the supplied reports do not give a public reopening date or access instructions.

According to reporting by La Vanguardia, the works began in May and are jointly funded by Badalona City Council and the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), the metropolitan authority, with a budget of €4.08 million.

Platform anchored beside the pier

The pontoon was towed about 1.5 kilometres from Port de Badalona to the pier. It measures 30 metres long and 18 metres wide, and will be fixed to the seabed with four 20-metre columns to keep it stable during the intervention.

Diari de Badalona reported that bathers at Platja del Pont del Petroli watched the transfer operation on Friday morning.

  • Demolition of the most structurally damaged sections is due to begin in the coming days.
  • Workers will remove the old deck and extract the existing piles.
  • The damaged sections will then be rebuilt, followed by installation of a new final deck designed to withstand future storms more effectively.

Prefabricated parts to be assembled at sea

Daniel Gràcia, Badalona City Council's second deputy mayor, said the new phase would allow the assembly of components manufactured away from the water for the replacement structure.

“It is a very important day” for recovering one of Badalona's most recognisable symbols, Daniel Gràcia said.

Ramon Torra, manager of the AMB, said the project is technically complex because work is being carried out at sea. He said the redesigned pier is intended to be less vulnerable to storms.

The supplied reports do not specify a reopening date for the Pont del Petroli or publish an official channel for checking access arrangements.

Primary sources: badalona.cat. Reported by Source Text Link, Fede Cedó, Leo Salguero, europapress.es, Eva Gómez, beteve.cat, larazon.es, ARA, Europa Press, barcelonaaldia.com, Jordi Palmer, ACN, barna.news, Sofía Díaz, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.