A Dangerously Scenic Road from Barcelona to Sitges / Vistes perilloses

Expats who are about to move to Catalonia, ought to consider Vilanova i la Geltrú as a possible future home. Here you have the opportunity to live close to the beach, but for a lot more affordable prices than what you have to pay in the metropolitan area. At the same time, this is a proper town with relatively well organized public services.

Communication with Barcelona - the city centre as well as the airport - by car is very efficient, as long as you are prepared to take the tollway (€ 5.10 in each direction). Earlier, when I used to go to Barcelona only in the weekends and for pleasure, I honestly did not mind to pay. However, nowadays, when I go there for work and almost every day, to save money I feel obliged to take C-31; a curvy single lane road which clings to the side of the Garraf mountains.

There could have been construction works to make this road slightly straighter, by adding bridges in some places, but after the intervention of Jordi Baijet, the mayor of Sitges, the money is instead being invested in adapting the road for tourism by adding rest stops at the most scenic spots. That was a wise decision. Although measures are also being taken to improve the safety standards, in any rational infrastructure planning, this road should not be used by commuters. Some of the curves are scarily sharp and the steep slope down into the water commands respect, not only when you meet one lorry after the other on its way to the quarry located halfway.

If you decide to move to Vilanova, or to Sigest for that sake, you will appreciate the new, improved C-31 when you are in the mood for exploring our proximity to the sea. On all other days, you will probably do like I and start to think about how you can influence local politicians to come up with a safer alternative.
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“Paisatgistica… però poc útil” és la perfecta descripció que va escollir el Diari de Vilanova per a l’article sobre la carretera C-31. Personalment sóc totalment d’acord amb el Jordi Baijet, l’alcalde de Sitges, que el projecte de millores que s’està duent a terme actualment és el més correcte. Una carretera penjant en les muntanyes sobre el mar és ideal per a l'ús turistic.

Alhora és clar que la comarca Garraf necesita una solució moderna per a la comunicació amb la capital catalana. Aquest paper, òbviament, no pot complir una carretera que és insegura o, quan plou, directament perillosa i on almenys els meus nens es maregen per la cantitat de curves.

Si us sembla que em vaig despertar tard en aquest assumpte, tinc la excusa que treballava a Tarragona abans. Llavors no m’importava pagar el peatge les poques vegades que anava cap a Barcelona. Peró, ara s’han canviat les coses i he d’anar-hi més o menys tots els dies.

Com una persona relativament nouvinguda, penso que tinc el dret de posar preguntes encara que la majoria dels vilanovins ja s'ha rendit: Si és tan difícil de baixar les tarifes del peatge d’una manera general, per què no es pot introduir un descompte per a nosaltres, la gent que vivim per aquí? Ens estimaríem més la seguretat que no pas les bones vistes.