A white van, with green lower panels and the blue acronym "BAI", parked near the new Cathedral in Vitoria-Gasteiz, marked the start of operations for the Brigada de Acción Inmediata (BAI). This unit carried out hundreds of interventions across all city neighborhoods during 2025.
An analysis of these actions shows that approximately seven out of ten interventions were related to the repair of pavements and manholes, as well as the improvement of accessibility features. These repairs, though often unnoticed, are "fundamental" for ensuring the safety, accessibility, and good condition of streets and public spaces.
Beatriz Artolazabal, the councilor for Public Space and Neighborhoods, emphasizes that the brigades are a "fundamental tool" for keeping the city in good condition and responding quickly to daily needs, addressing issues such as "potholes, sunken curbs, loose tiles, deteriorated sidewalks, or minor damages".
While many of these repairs are identified by municipal services, others are reported through citizen communication channels, making the BAI brigades a "very useful instrument" for resolving public road incidents and ensuring continuous maintenance.
Investment in urban maintenance has significantly increased, rising from 1.3 million euros in 2025 to 1.9 million in 2027, an increase of over 600,000 euros in just three years. "Caring for the city also means acting on the everyday and quickly resolving problems that affect citizens' daily lives," stated the councilor.
The service is organized into eight lots covering the entire urban area, enabling a "closer, more agile, and effective" approach in each zone. It complements municipal resources and expands operational capacity, including weekends and holidays, with a design focused on immediate response, even on the same day an incident is detected.
The most common interventions in 2025 included repairing and replacing damaged tiles and pavements, adapting pedestrian crossings and accessibility elements, and fixing manholes and drains. Work also involved asphalt repairs, curb maintenance, and upkeep in squares and parks.
