The machines work at high speed on various fronts of the Port Olímpic. The venue continues with its comprehensive transformation to open up to the city and become an attractive space for the people of Barcelona next summer, ready for the celebration of the Copa del América, which will have the base of the youth and women’s teams in this infrastructure. The first piece of this project, the new access through the central part for vehicles and pedestrians, has just been released. This Saturday it was inaugurated coinciding with the celebration of the second edition of Dissabte Blau, a day of activities aimed at family audiences that aims to show this update of what was one of the emblematic spaces of ’92 and that with the passing of time deteriorated and languished with his back to the people.
The new access, which runs at the foot of the Mapfre tower through a tunnel under the Paseo Marítim, began construction in July of last year and has required 3.6 million euros. Its opening, in addition to facilitating entry and exit from the port area with a direct connection from Litoral Avenue – the side of the ring road – allows for redefining internal mobility and gaining public space at the foot of the sea. The cantilevered ramp that connected this lower level with Marina Street, which was not sufficiently accessible due to its steep slope, will begin to be demolished in December and in about three months it will leave a large surface free that will provide continuity to the Mestral dock. Another notable element of the newly launched connection is that vehicles will be able to directly access the BSM Litoral Port car park, which is being renovated and will reopen in the middle of next year.
“The implementation of this new access allows Barcelona residents to begin to see the new relationship that the Port Olímpic wants to have with the Vila Olímpica neighborhood and its surroundings,” highlights the first deputy mayor, Laia Bonet, who recalls the objective of having “an urban port that brings the city closer to the sea and nautical life, inviting people to walk, play sports and enjoy.”
March will be an important month because, without the ramp, the Mestral dock will have its final public space, which will actually be a large rectangular square in front of the boat mooring area, and also the premises for activities will have run out. blue economy that will replace the old nightlife establishments that caused so many problems for the area (see box).
The Recer dock will also be ready in March. It will reopen with its renovated promenades at sea level – also with spaces for companies and warehouses – and above; the latter with splendid views that will become an exceptional viewpoint for the America’s Cup regattas.
“This transformation process is unstoppable,” points out the director of the Port Olímpic, Olga Cerezo, who reports on the good pace of the work and highlights another key piece to open the site to its surroundings: the pedestrian link with Nova beach. Icària, which will open in August, at the same time as the renovated Gregal dock, where the Balcó Gastronòmic is being built, the new restaurant area that replaces the one that was demolished at the beginning of the year.
Getting the restaurants ready for the Copa del América is surely the most difficult part of the tight construction schedule facing the Port Olímpic. In May, the premises are expected to be handed over so that the different operators can carry out the work inside. In parallel, the large pergolas that will crown the buildings – the most visible architectural elements of the transformation – will be built and the development of the Gregal pier will be completed. Everything will be done at the same time to make the most of the time, which is scarce, so that at the end of August it will be ready for the regattas. Before that, at the end of June or beginning of July, the Municipal Sailing Center will reopen, which is also being renovated, and will free up the Xaloc dock, which it is using provisionally. This space will house the base of the women’s and youth teams of the competition.
