Neighbours paint broken Gran Via paving slabs yellow to demand solutions

One hundred damaged paving slabs on Gran Via, marked by local residents. The council promises repairs in January 2026. The protest seeks to prevent falls and make neglect visible. Dissatisfaction is growing in Sant Martí. Why was action not taken sooner?

Around one hundred broken and sunken paving slabs on Gran Via, at the height of the Provençals del Poblenou neighbourhood, have been marked with yellow paint by local residents themselves. The action, driven by Asociación Amics de la Gran Via, aims to warn of the risk of falls and denounce the lack of municipal response.

The damaged slabs are concentrated between Josep Pla and Maresme streets, in the Sant Martí district. Tired of waiting, residents decided to mark the pavement with yellow spray paint this week. The aim: to warn pedestrians and pressure the council to act.

After the protest, the Sant Martí district announced that repairs to the pavement will begin from 19 January 2026, once the municipal budget has been approved. The maintenance brigade will be responsible for the work.

Edorta Moreno, spokesperson for the neighbourhood association, explained that the poor condition of the ground affects more than 200 metres on the sea side of Gran Via. According to his account, they had already submitted the complaint to the district in October, but the response was negative owing to lack of funds. Meanwhile, the pavement on the mountain side was refurbished last summer.

Residents’ dissatisfaction is not limited to the paving slabs. They also complain about problems with pneumatic waste collection, rubbish accumulating beside collection boxes, vehicles badly parked on the pavement and insecurity. Moreno calls for the mayor to visit the area and listen to their demands.