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ONCE Hails Accessibility Upgrades at Barcelona’s Glòries as a Model for Future Projects

ONCE credits in‑situ revisions with city designers for delivering clearer routes, acoustic cues, safer crossings.

Overview

  • Barcelona modified the original Glòries design during construction after joint reviews with ONCE, with special attention to single‑platform crossings used by tram and buses.
  • Installed measures include acoustic traffic lights, tactile guidance paving to crossings and transit, and abotonaduras that signal the transition to asphalt.
  • Street furniture such as benches and bins was positioned to aid orientation for people with visual impairments and to prevent obstacles along key paths.
  • ONCE praised the outcome as a reference for upcoming works, citing the future overhauls of Plaça d’Espanya and the Sants station area.
  • Officials acknowledged a short list of pending items, including handrails at specific points in the park and a vertical warning sign for bike‑lane users near a Diagonal crossing used by blind pedestrians.