The Esplugues de Llobregat Town Council will remove the mechanical stairs at Bòbila Square, which has suffered an irreparable breakdown, and will replace it with two elevators that will connect to Verge de la Mercè Street.
The mechanical stairs at Bòbila Square in Esplugues de Llobregat have said goodbye. After yet another breakdown that is no longer repairable, the Town Council has decided to remove it and replace it with two elevators that will ensure the connection between the square and Verge de la Mercè Street. The installation will be out of service from now on, until the works begin.
The decision responds to a long-standing problem. The very old stairs have suffered multiple incidents in recent years, and the last breakdown has been the final straw. The council has opted for a more modern and accessible solution: two elevators that will allow for comfortable ascent and descent, without relying on the moving steps.
The new infrastructure will particularly benefit residents with reduced mobility, elderly people, and those with baby strollers. The journey between Bòbila Square and Verge de la Mercè Street can be made by elevator both up and down, something that was not possible with the mechanical stairs, which only operated in one direction.
“The action is part of the first phase of the transformation of Verge de la Mercè Street, in the section between Bòbila Square and Menta and Serra del Cadí Streets,” municipal sources state.
The works, which are expected to last ten months, will be carried out in stages to minimize inconvenience. The area where the elevators will be located will be the first to be worked on, with the aim of getting them into service as soon as possible, although work continues on the rest of the street.
The Town Council is working to start the works as soon as possible, although it has not yet provided a specific date. What is clear is that, while the works are ongoing, residents will have to seek alternative routes to overcome the slope between the square and the upper street.
This intervention is part of a broader project to improve public space in Esplugues de Llobregat. The transformation of Verge de la Mercè Street aims to make it more accessible and walkable, and the elevators are the key piece to ensure vertical connection.
For local residents, the news comes as a relief. The mechanical stairs have been problematic for years, with frequent breakdowns leaving many residents without a comfortable alternative for going up or down. The elevators, in addition to being more reliable, offer a much more inclusive solution.
The action also has a visual impact: the structure of the mechanical stairs will disappear, giving way to a cleaner and more modern environment. The Town Council has assured that the new installation will harmoniously integrate into the urban landscape.
While waiting for the works to begin, the council asks residents for patience and reminds them that the removal of the stairs is necessary to install the new elevators. The priority is to have the new connection operational as soon as possible, even before the rest of the street works are completed.
This is not the only accessibility initiative underway in the municipality. In recent years, Esplugues has been removing architectural barriers at various points, with the installation of ramps, elevators, and adapted pedestrian crossings. The two new elevators at Bòbila are another step in that direction.
Bòbila Square, located in the heart of the neighbourhood, is a space widely used by residents, featuring facilities such as the municipal market and various shops. Improving its connection with the upper streets is key to revitalising the area and facilitating the daily lives of those who frequent it.
The project, funded with municipal funds, does not have a detailed public cost in the information provided, but is part of the planned investments for improving mobility and accessibility in the municipality. The Town Council hopes that the works can be awarded soon to start as soon as possible.
In the meantime, residents needing to overcome the slope of Bòbila will have to use existing alternative routes, such as the stairs in the Menta gardens or the route along Serra del Cadí Street. The expectation is that, in less than a year, the new elevator connection will be a reality.
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