A labyrinth is installed in Barcelona to reclaim the Mediterranean Corridor

From this Friday until Sunday, a huge cube has been set up in Plaza Universitat to advocate for and bring closer to citizens the Mediterranean Corridor, "an infrastructure of such great magnitude and with so many junctions, ramifications, and dead-end works that it looks like a labyrinth." The interior of the cube follows a path that details the specifics of a project that has accumulated oversights and delays for 25 years, designed for all audiences, with games for the little ones and information for accompanying adults. The sarcasm accumulated over so many lost years is not missing. It begins with a "In Spain, we have Iberian gauge tracks, and it's not that they are made of ham, but that they are different from the rest of Europe" and ends with a forceful "Change the track gauge or not even your aunt will move forward here."

The installation, covering more than 140 square meters, encourages shouting through tubes that amplify the message of supporting the Mediterranean Corridor, explains the differences between the current radial Spain and a circular Spain that values the Mediterranean capitals, and presents a puzzle more challenging than it initially seems. It even tests one's pulse by discovering the benefits of this infrastructure, recalling how difficult the board game Operation was, with a similar system, setting off alarms when one fails to keep a steady hand. Oh, and, obviously, there is the option to take a souvenir photo.

This initiative is an idea of the Valencian Association of Entrepreneurs. "In 2006, we started the Quiero corredor movement. There was an anomaly: How could it be that the second and third cities of Spain were not connected by high-speed rail, being the country with the most kilometers after China? Furthermore, we must add that we are in a territory, the Mediterranean arc that goes from Algeciras to the French border, which encompasses almost 50% of the GDP, 50% of exports, 63% of port maritime traffic, and 50% of foreign tourists, and there is no railway that connects the entire Mediterranean," says Diego Lorente, director of the association. "Since then, great strides have been made, but there are many delays."

The inauguration of the "labyrinth of delays" in Barcelona was attended by the president of Foment del Treball, Josep Sánchez Llibre, the general secretary of CC.OO. of Catalonia, Javier Pacheco, the president of Cecot, Xavier Panès, the president of Barcelona Oberta, Gabriel Jené, the president of the Catalan distribution employers' association CEDAC, Roger Gaspa, and executives such as Josep Tarradellas (Casa Tarradellas), Nuria Bassi (Bassi) and Marc Puig (Puig). The chief engineer of the Barcelona City Council, Oriol Altisench, also participated.

The labyrinth has arrived in Barcelona after passing through Cartagena and Antequera, where it has gathered more than 1,200 supports to accelerate the works. The installation's hours are from 12:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and admission is free. The next stop will be Alicante. After this small taste, the business association's big event will be held in Madrid on November 16, where more than 2,000 executives are expected to gather.