A long-awaited advance
The construction of the Olot and Les Preses bypass, a road infrastructure that promises to revolutionise traffic in the region, is finally underway. This project, which has been in the making for over three decades, aims to complete the Vic-Olot axis via Bracons and is expected to be operational by 2031. The work aims to drastically reduce road traffic in urban centres, especially heavy trucks, with an estimated decrease of between 30% and 90%.
The current mayor of Olot, Agustí Arbós (Junts), has expressed his satisfaction with this progress: “Olot can no longer wait; we are starting to see the light for this historic opportunity to become a reality.” During peak hours and weekends, the streets of these municipalities can support between 18,000 and 22,000 vehicles daily, which includes approximately 2,000 trucks. This situation has raised concerns about pollution and noise among residents.
The total investment to carry out this work amounts to 471 million euros, a figure that includes both construction and additional measures to mitigate its environmental impact. If everything goes as planned, bidding will begin in 2026, with a start expected in early 2027. The estimated timeframe for completing the works is approximately five years.
Despite the enthusiasm from the local government, not everyone is pleased with the bypass. Environmental groups and farmers have expressed concerns about how this new road could negatively affect agricultural fields in La Vall d’en Bas and the local aquifer. Magdalena Roca (Vall Plural), mayor of La Vall d’en Bas, has also voiced her opposition to the project.
Despite the rejection from some sectors, other groups like the platform ‘No és un vial, és un carrer’ celebrate this advance as a necessary victory to improve air quality and reduce heavy traffic in Olot. According to their representatives, this infrastructure is crucial not only from a logistical standpoint but also socially.
The bypass will have a total length of approximately eleven kilometres and will include a 40% underground section, with underground stretches specifically designed to minimise environmental impact. Among them is a tunnel under La Vall d’en Bas that will measure 900 metres. Additionally, two viaducts will be built over local rivers.
As this ambitious plan progresses, both local leaders and citizens eagerly await the economic and social benefits it will bring. Salvador Illa, president of the Generalitat, has described this investment as a fundamental transformation to improve not only road safety but also public health throughout the region.
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