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The Diada will disrupt 22 bus lines in central Barcelona this Friday
Getting around central Barcelona will be more complicated this Friday, 11 September. Diada events will cause bus diversions from early in the morning and, in the afternoon, the two columns of the pro-independence demonstration will affect 22 TMB lines between Gran Via, Via Laietana and plaça Catalunya.
The first disruptions will begin at around 5:00 and may last until 17:00 because of floral offerings at the Rafael Casanova monument. Closures will affect the area around ronda de Sant Pere, Girona, Méndez Núñez, Alí Bei, Bailèn and Bruc, and will require the routes of the D50, H16, V17 and 19 lines to be altered or limited.
The situation will become especially complicated during the afternoon. TMB expects disruptions between 13:00 and 21:00 because of the demonstration called for the Diada, which will begin at 17:14 and proceed towards plaça Catalunya from two different points in the city centre.
According to the organisers, the column called Present will set off from Gran Via at Casanova, pass through plaça Universitat and ronda Universitat, and end at plaça Catalunya. TMB's operational notice places the start of disruptions on this axis somewhat further east, at Aribau. The second column, Futur, will leave from Via Laietana next to plaça de la Catedral, continue along ronda de Sant Pere and also converge on Catalunya.
The restrictions may alter the routes of the D20, D50, H12, H14, H16, V9, V11, V13, V15, V17, 19, 22, 24, 39, 47, 54, 55, 59, 63, 67, 120 and 141 lines. There are 22 regular lines, so travelling by bus between Eixample and Ciutat Vella in the afternoon will require checking the route just before setting off.
TMB recommends using the metro to cross the city centre, although it also warns that several stations may experience especially high passenger numbers. The ones likely to be most affected are Urgell, Universitat, Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia, Urquinaona and Jaume I.
At times of high passenger concentration, occasional measures may be applied to organise access, and passengers must follow the instructions of staff, public-address announcements and information panels. TMB also advises allowing more time than usual for any journey connected with the demonstration area.
The metro will operate this Friday until 2:00 in the morning. That timetable, however, is not a special extension for the Diada: it is the network's normal timetable on Friday nights. For now, TMB has not announced specific percentages of increased train services for the day in its official notice.
The two columns will begin walking at 17:14 and converge at plaça Catalunya, where the final event is scheduled. For anyone not taking part in the mobilisation, the most difficult period for crossing the city centre on the surface will likely be from mid-afternoon until around 21:00.