New impetus for one of Barcelona's most important projects to improve mobility and bring metro service to neuralgic areas of the city such as Plaça Francesc Macià. In addition to significantly reinforcing public transport offerings in the center, the extension of FGC's L8 line will allow the connection of the Llobregat-Anoia and Barcelona-Vallès lines, making this work strategic for the entire metropolitan region, as it will enhance intermodality, travel between counties, and avoid many transfers.
The project consists of drilling a new tunnel 4.1 kilometers long between the Plaça Espanya interchange, where the Llobregat-Anoia line currently ends, and the FGC station in Gràcia (Gala Placidia), which belongs to the Barcelona-Vallès line. Along this route, three new stations will be built at Hospital Clínic, Francesc Macià, and Gràcia, and additionally, the current Plaça Espanya station will be remodeled, and a new maneuvering track will be enabled. This infrastructure will require an investment of over 380 million euros and could be inaugurated in 2028, two years later than initially planned, as the tunnel will have to be excavated at a greater depth (50 meters) than anticipated to bypass other existing infrastructures.
Currently, work is already underway on the construction project for the civil works, both for the tunnel and for the new stations and the maneuvering track. Now, at this Tuesday's meeting, the Government of the Generalitat has authorized the tendering of six complementary construction projects that will make this long-awaited action a reality. These are six contracts totaling 1.7 million euros, which will translate into works valued at over 65 million.
The first of the projects being tendered will allow the construction of the superstructure, that is, the tracks, and the catenary where the trains will run. The signaling projects are also put out to tender; the electrical power supply, communications and non-railway installations of the tunnel and emergency exits; and the architecture and installations projects for the new Hospital Clínic, Francesc Macià and Gràcia stations. Later, the construction projects for the remodeling of the current Gràcia and Plaza España stations will be tendered. When all these projects are drafted, the execution of the works can be tendered.
The new FGC station at Hospital Clínic will have a depth of 50 meters and will be located on Urgell street, between Rosselló and Córcega. It will have a connection with the current lobby of the Hospital Clínic station of TMB Metro line 5. In parallel, the Francesc Macià station will also be built underground on Urgell, between Buenos Aires street and the square, which will allow interchange with the Trambaix. Finally, the new Gràcia station will be located on Travessera de Gràcia, between Balmes and Gala Placidia, and will be connected to the existing station.
On the other hand, the Government has also given the green light to an investment of 37.6 million destined to launch the tram extension between Glòries and Verdaguer. With this agreement, the ATM can now proceed with the tender for the works, which will involve extending the tram 1.8 kilometers and building three new stops in Verdaguer, Sicilia and Monumental. The great novelty of this work is that the TRAM will circulate without a catenary.