La Rambla in Barcelona reopens to traffic towards the sea after nearly three years of works

The Raval side of the road reopens to traffic this Tuesday after being closed since June 2024. The City Council expects the complete renovation to be ready by February.

Vehicles can once again circulate on the Raval side of La Rambla in Barcelona from this Tuesday. The lane had been closed since June 2024 due to the renovation works on the promenade. The reopening restores local traffic and facilitates access for residents, services, and users of the area's parking facilities.

The reopening is part of the transformation of one of the most well-known spaces in Barcelona. According to the City Council, the works are progressing as planned, and they expect to finish by February. By then, the council aims to have a renovated Rambla with a different space distribution.

The new design allocates more space for pedestrian movement and stay. In terms of mobility, the idea is to prioritise trips originating or ending in La Rambla itself and in the Ciutat Vella district, while reducing through traffic that uses the area to cross the district.

When the works are completed, the City Council plans to install control and automatic sanction cameras to restrict the circulation of vehicles using La Rambla as a thoroughfare. The model will follow the strategy applied on the renovated Via Laietana.

Bus line 59 will resume its route along La Rambla

The reorganisation of traffic will also affect public transport. While the works are ongoing, the 59 line of TMB will maintain its upward route along La Rambla and its downward route along Via Laietana. Once the works are completed, the bus will return to its original itinerary and will circulate along La Rambla in both directions.

The opening of the Raval side will allow changes in the surrounding area. Calle dels Tallers will reopen, and the circulation directions of Xuclà and del Bonsuccés streets will be restored. The temporary crosswalks set up in the central part of the promenade during the works will also be removed.

More space for goods distribution

The reopening will have consequences for urban goods distribution. With the new lane operational, ten new loading and unloading spaces will be created on the Raval side, which will be added to the 18 that already exist on the Gothic side. In total, La Rambla will have 28 spaces for these operations.

Additionally, the City Council will establish a new schedule for urban goods distribution, which will be concentrated between 8:00 and 12:00. The aim is to reduce conflicts between the logistical operations of businesses and the high influx of pedestrians on the promenade.

This modification is part of a broader strategy to reorganise goods distribution in Barcelona and make the routes and operations of suppliers more efficient. Specifically for La Rambla, the council considers it important to concentrate these activities during time slots with less interference with pedestrian use of the space.

During the first working days after the reopening, the City Council will deploy an information device aimed at the establishments and businesses on La Rambla to explain the changes in the functioning of goods distribution.

While preparing for this reopening, the works are mainly focused on the central section of La Rambla, after the two sides of the promenade are practically finished. Current actions include excavation and ground preparation, renewal of urban service networks, installation of new lighting and safety elements, and laying of new pavements. At the same time, some characteristic elements of the promenade are being rehabilitated, including the traditional newsstands.

In the coming months, the work on the central part will be completed, the paving and traffic signal and control systems will be finished, and various heritage elements will be restored. The reorganisation of the kiosks and modules for florists will also be completed.