In Catalonia, a group of leading civil engineers has called for a long-term plan to update and expand the region’s infrastructure networks. In an opinion piece published today in La Vanguardia, they said major projects have too often stalled because of a lack of consensus and ambition.
The engineers linked their appeal to the 150th death anniversary of urban planner Ildefons Cerdà. They said Catalonia needs a major public debate on infrastructure that looks 50 years ahead, rather than short-term fixes.
Among the signatories are Pere Calvet, dean of the Col·legi d’Enginyers de Camins, Canals i Ports, along with Ángel Simón, José Alberto Carbonell, Xavier Flores, Joan Franco, Jordi Julià, Pere Macias, Joan Molins, Felip Puig, Esther Real and Andreu Ulied. All of them have received the Medalla Cerdà at some point in their careers.
The article highlights the modernisation of Rodalies, the completion of Metro Line 9 and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Line 8, and future public transport expansion as priorities. The engineers also said planning should be rigorous and priorities clear, and argued that this has been missing for years in both the Catalan Department of Territory and the Spanish Ministry of Transport. More Catalonia news
They also called for better connectivity and, if needed, expansion of El Prat Airport and the Port of Barcelona. Other priorities include unblocking the Ronda del Vallès to advance the B-40 between Terrassa and Sabadell, and improving the AP-7, which they say is close to capacity. The same ideas were set out in a document previously submitted by the professional colleges of civil and industrial engineers to Salvador Illa, then a candidate for the Generalitat presidency.
The engineers said the aim is to build a shared vision for Catalonia’s infrastructure over the next five decades. Their call is framed as a way to move beyond repeated deadlock and secure the political and social agreement needed for major upgrades.