Debris Still Blocks Besòs River Mouth
The opening of the Sant Adrià de Besòs railway bridge remains fully obstructed by reeds, logs and plant debris washed down during the historic flood of Sunday 4 October 2026, which saw the Besòs River reach 936 cubic metres per second. La Marea Verde Sant Adrià de Besòs, a local environmental association, warned on Thursday that the blockage had not been cleared since the flood and called for immediate action. "We have been near the opening and it is still completely blocked. It is the same as the day of the flood," the group stated in a social media post. They stressed that even light rainfall could cause serious flooding due to restricted water flow under the viaduct.
Mayor Demands Safety Review from Adif
On Monday, 7 October, Sant Adrià mayor Filo Cañete sent a formal letter to Luis Pedro Marco de la Peña, president of Adif, urging a specific review of the bridge’s structural integrity and its ability to withstand future high-flow events. The Rodalies R1 line bridge, which connects coastal regions from La Selva to Baix Llobregat, sits lower and narrower than other crossings over the Besòs, increasing the risk of debris accumulation. Cañete highlighted ongoing concerns about erosion, pillar stability and potential collapse under pressure. She also requested a timeline for any necessary interventions. This follows prior warnings from the Besòs Consortium, which months ago proposed raising the viaduct by 3.5 metres at an estimated cost of €20 million, a plan that has yet to be acted upon.
The episode lived has made clear that this bridge cannot be considered sufficiently safe in situations of river swelling.
Adif Confirms Coordination with Authorities
Adif confirmed it is working with relevant administrations and has updated its flood risk analysis using new hazard and flood risk maps from the Catalan Water Agency (ACA). The results have been shared with ACA to seek a consensus solution. However, no cleaning operation has yet taken place under the bridge. Sant Adrià City Council says it has maintained constant communication with regional and national bodies since the 4 October flood to push for removal of debris both under the bridge and along the riverbanks. With further rain forecast in coming days, La Marea Verde insists the clearance must happen immediately to avoid repeat flooding in low-lying areas of the town.
Reported by elperiodico.com, dailymail.com, adif.es, laopiniondemurcia.es, El Periódico Barcelona.
