Metro tunnel plans rock GaudÍ’s jewel to its foundationsThomas Catán in
Madrid
It has taken 125 years to build so far, surviving the loss of the plans,
a chronic lack of funds and the death of its creator, flattened by a
passing tram.
But Barcelona’s world-famous cathedral, the Sagrada FamÍlia, could be
facing its toughest challenge yet: the construction of a tunnel for
high-speed trains next to its foundations. “We are extremely concerned
about the tunnel passing so close,” said Jordi Bonet, the cathedral’s
director, explaining that a protective wall would be built just 75cm
(30in) from the foundations.
Mr Bonet, the chief architect who has spent 22 years trying to finish
Antoni GaudÍ’s surreal masterpiece, says the planned excavations “could
prove fatal” for the landmark and cause “irreversible damage”.
Giant tunnelling machines will bore a 12m (39ft) wide tunnel through the
sandy, water-logged land under the cathedral, he said, risking
subsidence or flooding.
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1624170.ece