Cracks appear in three buildings in Montcada i Reixac due to the works to bury the R2

BarcelonaFirst year of bittersweet balance in Montcada i Reixac compared to the already Historic underground railway tracks. After decades of waiting for the start of these works, the local council reported at the end of January the appearance of significant cracks in some floors of up to three different buildings in the Can Sant Joan neighbourhood, which is located within the area affected by the R2 underground works. These are gaps in the ceiling, floor and walls that in some cases even allow a glimpse of the street or adjacent neighbours.

In its statement, the municipal government states, without a doubt, that these impacts are "a consequence of the work that was being done to reinforce and stabilise the land in the area" and, therefore, that they are caused by the underground works. They also explain that Adif - the infrastructure manager - and the joint venture of companies carrying out the works have been asked "to stop all the work that is currently being carried out in the Can Sant Joan neighbourhood".

Since the works in this area have been stopped - in other parts of the municipality the underground works are still underway - the neighbours can breathe easier. "My sister's grandson came to sleep at home and told me that there was sand in the bed," explains Lola Sánchez, one of the neighbours affected by the cracks in statements to the ACN. "We see that since work has stopped on the street, no more malformations have appeared," explained the mayor, Bartolo Egea, at the appearance on Tuesday to take stock of the works.

The worst part has been borne precisely by Lola's block, at number 68 on Besòs street in Montcada. "You can even see the street through one [of the cracks], and the cracks on the ground allow us to hear the neighbours below," explains this neighbour, who has collected all the sand that has fallen from the walls in recent days and has also had to invent some home remedies, such as putting paper to cover the holes in the cracks. "Since they stopped the work, not so much sand falls anymore. You can tell," she says.

Although the cracks are of considerable size, inspections and the council assure that there is no risk to residents, who have not had to leave their homes so far. When all the damage has been analysed, the cracks will be repaired and work will resume, although, according to the council, this will be done more slowly to ensure that the situation does not happen again. The council, in fact, assures that it is working in coordination with Adif and UTE and that it is carrying out an exhaustive control of the area. "The request to stop the works - say municipal sources in the official statement - is a precautionary measure."

A year of works

Despite the problem in Can Sant Joan, both the City Council and the platform Trato Justo Soterramiento Total have made a positive assessment of the first anniversary of the start of construction. The mayor has highlighted the fluidity of communication with Adif, and that the works are progressing at the planned pace. "The incidents that arise are being alleviated in the shortest possible time and in the best possible way," agreed the spokesperson for the neighbourhood platform, Anna Solano.

Currently the works are being carried out at different points in the municipality, on sections of the road that pass through the town centre, such as the area around the station, the two level crossings in the centre and the Casa de les Aigües. However, the platform has warned that they will be attentive to any problem or delay that may occur in works that have been waiting for many decades.