Garbage and cleaning trucks have repeatedly hit a balcony on a building at the intersection of Carrer Rossend Arús and Carrer Juan Bravo in the La Bordeta neighbourhood, prompting the Barcelona City Council to install two stone benches as a protective measure. The incidents began after the council reconfigured Rossend Arús street into a single-level, pedestrian-friendly platform, removing the raised sidewalk that previously prevented large vehicles from cutting the corner too sharply.

The problem persisted for months, with the first-floor balcony sustaining visible damage from at least one impact. A resident filed a formal complaint with the Barcelona Ombudsman, David Bondia, on 12 June 2026, after earlier reports to the Sants-Montjuïc district went unresolved for a year. Bondia’s office issued a resolution on 9 September 2026, confirming the recurring collisions and reviewing the council’s response.

Initially, the council installed a bollard to deter vehicles, but garbage trucks continued to strike it, causing further damage. In response, the council opted to place two solid stone benches at the building’s corner to physically restrict the turning radius of large vehicles. Municipal sources confirm the benches have successfully prevented further collisions.

Longstanding Issue Prompted Ombudsman Intervention

The ombudsman’s resolution acknowledges the effectiveness of the stone benches but criticises the delay in resolving the issue. Bondia urged the Sants-Montjuïc district to act faster in future cases and to take proactive steps to prevent similar incidents. He noted that the council’s planning could improve in anticipating unintended consequences of urban design changes.

Ongoing Street Repairs in Rossend Arús

The installation of the benches is part of a broader upgrade to Carrer Rossend Arús, which includes reconfiguring pavement and adding urban furniture to designate new loading and unloading zones. According to the council, the works have been carried out in phases since June 2026. Current repairs to the cobblestone surface are underway on the stretch between Carrer Iberia and Passatge Baró de Griñó and are scheduled to continue until 25 September 2026.

The ombudsman views the solution as effective but stresses the need for quicker, more preventive action by the district.

Primary sources: Ajuntament de Barcelona, ajuntament.barcelona.cat. Reported by totbarcelona.cat, Tot Barcelona.