Barcelona airport must expand its capacity, as stated in the agreement reached between ERC and PSC to approve the Generalitat’s budgets, but the problem is how. The existence of the Ricarda and Remolar wetlands at the two ends of the runways makes this difficult and is the main reason why the airport project designed by Aena is now paralyzed. In recent weeks, various alternatives have been put on the table that try to affect the protected areas as little as possible and also cause little inconvenience to the neighbors, but these needs hinder the primary objective, which is none other than to guarantee an increase in flights intercontinental.
And in this context, the Government is now studying a new initiative that is quite a revolution. It would be about not touching the famous third track and building a new one over the sea, more than a kilometer and a half away from the beach and at a height of ten meters. Unlike the old idea launched by the then PP minister, Josep Piqué, in 2003, which provided for the installation at sea level, this project provides for the runway to be elevated on pylons driven into the ground, like the wind turbines for wind turbines installed in the North Sea, in Great Britain. A team led by the engineer Joaquim Coello has commissioned a study from two companies with experience in these techniques, and it has been calculated that the project would cost 2,100 million euros. The height of ten meters arises due to the risk that the sea level will rise in the coming years.
The project, it should be said, is in a very initial phase. It has already been presented to President Pere Aragonès himself and to the Regional Minister, Juli Fernández. Now it is expected to take it to the meeting of the technical commission to which PSC and ERC have been summoned after the budget agreement. The Government’s position is extremely prudent because they know that Aena’s opinion is very important and this body has always rejected any alternative to a track over the sea. Given the existing paralysis on the future of enlargement, it would not hurt to study this option. In the end, it can be a landing strip for all parties.