Barcelona to revamp Montjuïc mountain with metro line extension 

Barcelona City Council is planning to transform Montjuïc mountain and the surrounding area with a €2.8 billion development project. Among the improvements, there is an extension of the metro L2 line and creating a more "friendly" Plaça Espanya.  

Mayor Jaume Collboni announced the project during the 'Nou Montjuïc' (New Montjuïc) conference, held at the Joan Miró foundation, as a part of a question-and-answer event between the mayor and media outlets.  

"Montjuïc has to become one of the hotspots of the new metropolitan Barcelona of the 21st-century and of 2035," Collboni said during the conference. 

The extension of the L2 metro line to Montjuïc will be a "key" aspect of the transformation, since it will facilitate access to the Olympic Ring and the entire mountain. 

The new X3 bus line will improve transport access until the metro upgrade is complete. The bus line will link Paral·lel, Plaça Espanya, the Olympic Ring, Fira de Barcelona, and Carrer Foc.    

The project also aims at making Plaça Espanya pedestrian friendly, connecting all sides via pedestrian crossings to the center of the square, which will have a new sidewalk around the central fountain.  

With a budget of €10 million, the transformation of the area around Plaça Espanya will be conducted once the extension of the L8 FGC rail line is finished.  

According to the city council, the plaza will be a "new gateway" to Montjuïc mountain.  

The city council aims for it to become a major public transport hub for the metropolitan region, with three metro lines, railway lines and a new underground bus station. 

Renovations at the Olympic Ring 

As part of the new Montjuïc, the local government is also looking to expand and refurbish the Olympic Park by 2035.  

With an overall budget of €370 million, it includes plans to expand Sant Jordi Club to host concerts for up to 8,000 spectators.  

Authorities are planning to modernize the Olympic Stadium facilities and transform the esplanade during the next five years.  

The city council also wants to consolidate the mountain of Montjuïc as the city's largest metropolitan park, a “green lung” with a leading role for culture and sports. 

In the coming years, the council plans to recover the Palau d'Esports as a city sports pavilion, which would also have other civic and cultural uses.   

Between 2000 and 2008 the Palau was used for cultural purposes, but it has been closed since 2008.   

According to the mayor, overall investment could reach up to €2.8 billion. The city council and BSM (Barcelona Municipal Services) will contribute 25%, with the rest of the funding provided by the Catalan government and the Fira de Barcelona conference hall.