> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Work Begins on R1 Bridge Flood Defences - URL: https://barna.news/work-begins-on-r1-bridge-flood-defences/ - Published: 2026-11-06T12:58:30.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-06T12:58:52.000Z - Description: Short-term improvements and long-term redesign of the R1 railway bridge in Sant Adrià de Besòs are underway to reduce flood risk after October's historic storm. - Author: Barna.News News Desk - Tags: environment ## Immediate Repairs and Long-Term Redesign Underway The Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, Adif, the Besòs Consortium, and Sant Adrià de Besòs City Council are advancing a two-phase plan to improve the R1 commuter rail bridge over the Besòs River and reduce flood risk. This follows the record-breaking rainfall on Sunday 4 October 2026, when the river reached a peak flow of 936 cubic metres per second. The current iron bridge, built in the 1940s, crosses the river parallel to the 1992 Avinguda d’Avinguda d’Eduard Maristany bridge. Its lower elevation and narrower structure restrict water flow and increase the risk of debris accumulation, as highlighted by the environmental group La Marea Verde Sant Adrià de Besòs. The group reported on 9 October that reeds, logs, and plant debris remained fully obstructing the river mouth since the flood, warning that even light rain could trigger localised flooding. --- ## Short-Term Repairs in Progress Since Tuesday 13 October, the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has been conducting clearance operations on the right bank upstream of the bridge, removing flood debris and structural wreckage. Adif has also begun removing vegetation and debris trapped beneath the railway viaduct using excavators, though a car and generator washed downstream have yet to be recovered. The mayor of Sant Adrià, Filo Cañete, sent a formal letter to Adif president Luis Pedro Marco de la Peña on Wednesday 7 October, urging a structural review and a clear timeline for interventions. She cited concerns over erosion, pillar stability, and the potential for collapse during future high-flow events. > We have been near the opening and it is still completely blocked. It is the same as the day of the flood. , La Marea Verde Sant Adrià de Besòs, 9 October 2026 ## Long-Term Replacement in Planning While short-term repairs are underway, officials are now beginning the design phase for a new, higher-elevation bridge. The proposed structure would match the hydraulic capacity of the nearby road bridge, allowing it to withstand exceptional floods. The Besòs Consortium previously recommended raising the viaduct by 3.5 metres at an estimated cost of €20 million, a proposal that is now being formally evaluated. The R1 line, operated by Rodalies de Catalunya, connects coastal areas from La Selva to Baix Llobregat, making the bridge a critical transport link. The current bridge's vulnerability has been under scrutiny for months, with prior warnings from both local authorities and environmental groups about its ability to cope with extreme weather. Work to clear the river and assess the bridge’s integrity is expected to continue for several weeks, according to the ACA. No disruption to train services has been reported so far. --- *Sources:* [*Govern de Catalunya*](https://govern.cat/salapremsa/notes-premsa/889125/generalitat-adif-locals-treballen-millorar-pas-lr1-sobre-riu-sant-adria-besos-minimitzar-risc-dinundacio?ref=barna.news)*,* [*Barna.News News Desk*](https://barna.news/sant-adria-bridge-debris-raises-flood/)*,* [*adif.es*](https://www.adif.es/w/79403-st.-adri%C3%A0-de-bes%C3%B2s?ref=barna.news)*,* [*El Periódico*](https://www.elperiodico.cat/20261013/riu-besos-pont-obres-reparacions-riuada-temporal-135276975?ref=barna.news)*.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [TMB to Review Flood Defences After Storms](https://barna.news/tmb-to-review-flood-defences-after/) - [Storm Bruna to bring rain, wind to Catalonia](https://barna.news/storm-bruna-to-bring-rain-wind-to/) - [Record Rainfall in Catalonia This October](https://barna.news/record-rainfall-in-catalonia-this/) - [Colder Weather and Rain Hit Catalonia from Monday](https://barna.news/colder-weather-and-rain-hit-catalonia/)