The machines work at high speed on several fronts of the Olympic Port. The venue is continuing 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 America's Cup, which will have in this infrastructure the base of the youth and women's teams. The first part of this project, the new access to the central part for vehicles and pedestrians, has just been opened. Yesterday, it was inaugurated to coincide with the celebration of the second edition of Dissabte Blau, a day of activities aimed at family audiences whose aim is to show this update of what was one of the emblematic spaces of 1992 and that with the passing of time went on deteriorating and languishing, with its back to the people.
The new access, which runs at the foot of the Mapfre tower through a tunnel under the Passeig Marítim, began to be built in July 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 Avinguda Litoral - the side of the roundabout - allows redefining internal mobility and gaining public space at the seafront. The overhanging 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 will leave a large area free that will provide continuity to the Mestral wharf. Another noteworthy element of the newly launched connection is that vehicles will be able to access the BSM Litoral Port car park directly, which is being renovated and will reopen in the middle of next year.
"The launch of this new access allows the people of Barcelona to begin to see the new relationship that the Olympic Port wants to have with the Vila Olímpica district and its surroundings", emphasizes the first deputy mayor, Laia Bonet, which recalls the objective of having "an urban port that brings the city closer to the sea and nautical life, invites to stroll, do sports and enjoy".
March will be an important month because, without the ramp, the Mestral wharf will have all its definitive public space, which will actually be a large rectangular square in front of the boat mooring area, and in addition the premises for blue economy activities that will replace the old night entertainment establishments that caused so many problems in the area (see box).
The Recer pier will also be ready in March. It will reopen with the renovated promenades at sea level – also with spaces for companies and clubs – and higher; the latter with splendid views that will make it an exceptional vantage point for the America's Cup regattas.
"This transformation process is unstoppable", points out the director of the Port Olímpic, Olga Cerezo, who gives an account of the good pace of the work and highlights another key piece to open the site to its surroundings: the link for pedestrians with the Nova Icària beach, which will open in August, at the same time as the renovated Gregal pier, where Balcó Gastronòmic is being built, the new restaurant area that replaces the one that was demolished at the beginning of 'year.
Having the restaurants ready for the America's Cup is surely the most difficult part of the tight construction schedule facing the Olympic Port. The premises are expected to be handed over in May so that the different operators can do the work inside. At the same time, the large pergolas that will crown the buildings - the most visible architectural elements of the transformation - will be built and the urbanization of the Gregal wharf 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 thus the Xaloc pier, which is being used provisionally, will be freed up. This space will house the base of the competition's female and youth teams.
