Girona City Council has put out to tender for 908,924.22 euros the works for the new Mas Gri car park and the reorganization of the roundabout located at the southern entrance of the city, next to Clínica Girona. The project, dated May 2024, sets an execution period of nine months and also includes a shuttle bus stop and a bike lane.
The action proposes creating a car park with up to 222 spaces and modifying the operation of the Mas Gri roundabout to facilitate both circulation and access to the new car park. The deadline for companies to submit bids ends on April 20 and, with the foreseen schedule, the works would not start at the earliest until summer, once awarded.
Two lanes in the roundabout and a shuttle towards the center
The project plans to eliminate one of the three current lanes of the roundabout, the one closest to the car park, and leave two lanes throughout the entire turn. The objective is to reduce the passing speed and make the maneuver of vehicles inside the oval easier.
The technical document itself states that circulating through this point is uncomfortable due to the high speeds of vehicles. It also notes that cars leaving Reggio Emilia street suffer delays due to the speed of vehicles arriving from Avellaneda, due to the exit of numerous vehicles from the shopping center, and due to the presence of the pedestrian crossing.
The reorganization incorporates a shuttle bus stop in the roundabout itself to transfer users from the car park to the center of Girona. The project establishes that the driver will have a system to regulate the traffic lights and turn red those of Barcelona and Reggio Emilia streets, so that the bus can exit comfortably and cross the two lanes to make the crossing of the roundabout.
A deterrent car park as priority use
The facility is designed to organize the entry and exit of vehicles from this access point to the city and, above all, to function as a park-and-ride. The project defines three types of users and establishes as a priority profile people who arrive from outside Girona and want to leave the car at the entrance and continue by bus to the center.
- Occasional parking for visits to Clínica Girona or for those who do not want to use the parking of the socio-health center
- Residents of Girona who work outside the city and use the space to group together and share a car
- Users from outside Girona who park and take the bus in the direction of the center
The car park will have entry and exit control barriers, a license plate reading camera, and an automatic payment machine. The system must prevent long stays and favor its use as a deterrent car park to access the center. It must also allow public transport users to obtain free or discounted parking.
Bike lane and project timelines
The works also include a bike lane between Clínica Girona and the Avellaneda area, where another enabled section already exists. This new route will pass next to the catering establishments that are being built in the sector.
Of the total cost of the project, 400,000 euros are subsidized by the Pla Únic d'Obres i Serveis de Catalunya. The council, furthermore, had to return 214,741.20 euros to the Ministry for not having executed the action within the previously set deadlines.
With the foreseen bidding, awarding, and execution times, the new Mas Gri car park and the reorganization of the roundabout would not be a reality until well into 2027.