Barcelona is scheduling 24 major interventions and 18 resurfacing operations this summer as the city government seeks to complete or advance impressive urban projects before the next municipal elections. Residents and commuters will face disruptions across basic streets and public transport lines, with work concentrated during the school holidays to reduce the impact on everyday mobility.
The program will affect road traffic, tram and metro services, as well as Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC). Major works include the renewal of Balmes Street, the change of La Rambla and the next visible stage of the Ronda de Dalt coverage project between Avinguda de Vallcarca and Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron.
On Balmes, the final phase of a renovation begun in 2024 will upgrade more than 15,000 square metres. The full roadway between Ronda del General Mitre and Via Augusta will be resurfaced on July 11 and 12, requiring a closure and traffic diversions via Riera de Cassoles. Bus lines V15, 198, 27 and D40 will also be diverted. Work to finish the sidewalks is scheduled to continue until the end of July.
A section of Avinguda Meridiana between Felip II and Fabra i Puig will be resurfaced in stages. Inbound lanes will be affected from July 31 to August 7, followed by outbound lanes from August 8 to 14. At least one lane in each direction is due to remain open, while bus lines 96, 126, V27, V29 and H8, as well as shuttles serving L9 and L10, will be rerouted. Interurban bus services will also be affected.
The street’s redevelopment has improved aspects of bus operations, but passenger facilities remain a concern. The Associació per a la Promoció del Transport Públic (PTP), a public-transport advocacy group, has called for better interurban-bus stops in the Sagrera-Meridiana area, saying waiting conditions are inadequate, insufficiently sheltered and poorly integrated with their surroundings.
La Rambla’s redevelopment is scheduled to continue, with completion targeted for February 2027. This summer, work will focus on the Gòtic side, as the city aims to open additional sections of the promenade. Construction is concentrated on the Raval roadway and parts of the central walkway, with the southbound lane expected to reopen in the coming months.
The Ronda de Dalt coverage project, launched in 2024, is due to enter a more visible stage this August. More than 16,000 square metres of public space are planned above the infrastructure between Avinguda de Vallcarca and Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron. The slow lane is scheduled to close for three weeks while lighting, communications and safety systems are installed for the future tunnel. Night closures in both directions and phased disruption between Avinguda de Vallcarca and Avinguda de Jordà are also expected.
Transport infrastructure is also due for large maintenance and expansion. Work on the FGC Line 8 extension around Plaça d’Espanya will continue to affect the area from June 25 to September 7. Tunnel excavation for L8 is due to finish by the end of the year, although construction will continue afterward.
Metro Line 1 track renewal will suspend service between Hospital de Bellvitge and Plaça de Sants from July 17 to August 28. Further works are planned at the Catalunya interchange and on lines L9 and L10 Nord. Tram services T4, T5 and T6 will be interrupted from July 3 to September 13 because of construction near Glòries and Gran Via.
The summer program is part of a wider municipal effort to reshape major corridors around public space, walking, cycling and climate ability to recover. The Diagonal tram connection, but, is not part of the immediate summer construction schedule: Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni has said the 2.8-kilometre extension is planned to start in summer 2027, after the municipal elections, with completion targeted for 2031.
The Diagonal project would connect Carrer de Girona with Plaça de Francesc Macià, add three stops, Diagonal-Cinc d’Oros, Balmes and Casanova, and adapt the Francesc Macià interchange. Plans include about 16,000 square metres of additional pedestrian space, 18,900 square metres of green areas and 1,800 square metres of cycle lanes. The city has also linked the surface redevelopment to enlargement and duplication of the storm-water collector between Girona and Francesc Macià, with the stated aim of increasing its capacity by 60%.
Barcelona’s government commission has approved a municipal allocation of €120 million for the city’s share of the Diagonal project. Collboni said the tender was expected to be issued within weeks of the funding decision; publication and procurement come before construction, which remains scheduled for 2027. The project combines tram infrastructure and public-space works with underground drainage improvements intended to strengthen the city’s capacity to handle heavy rainfall.
Barcelona’s strategy of concentrating disruptive work during periods of lower mobility is intended to balance infrastructure upgrades with daily life. The city has more than 1.6 million residents and relies heavily on public transport, making coordination across agencies impressive as projects proceed. While the summer program advances works ahead of the next election cycle, the Diagonal tram link is planned for the following summer, with its public-space and transport changes extending into the next municipal term.
