Almeida, during his visit to the A5 works passing through the Latina district
It has been half a year since the Madrid City Council started the works to execute the first phase of the Southwest Green Promenade on the A-5, a transformative project for the city worth 408 million euros designed and funded by the municipal government. Since October 11, the works of phase 1 have been carried out, covering the highway in a 3.2-kilometer stretch, from Avenida de Portugal to Avenida del Padre Piquer.
In that area of the Latina district, eight piloting machines, eight cranes, and about twenty excavators are operating daily to build the tunnel that will bridge the gap between neighborhoods. 1,650 piles have already been installed – 30% of the total – an average of 70 per day, to make the burying of the highway a reality, which will eliminate 90% of surface traffic and its polluting emissions to create a large green and pedestrian boulevard.
Everything is progressing according to the planned deadlines and without significant incidents, as announced today by the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, during his visit to the site, accompanied by the Delegate for Urbanism, Environment, and Mobility, Borja Carabante, and the district councilor, Alberto González.
Once the first phase is completed, the Madrid City Council will begin the second phase, linked to the development of the Campamento Operation, whose urbanization project was approved in February. The second stage will involve the extension of the underground. Initially, the tunnel and subsequent boulevard were planned to run from Avenida del Padre Piquer to Avenida de la Aviación, but in response to the demands of the residents of Cuatro Vientos, an extension to the beginning of Dehesa del Príncipe will be analyzed, which is where the last houses of the neighborhood end, 700 meters more than initially planned. Almeida has guaranteed that its study will be incorporated into the draft of the second phase of the Southwest Green Promenade.
Great city project that improves mobility
The mayor has expressed satisfaction with the successful progress of the works, which will transform and regenerate one of the main entrances to the city. According to him, this city project improves the traffic conditions for entering Madrid, surpassing the current barrier effect. Thus, the A-5 will become the backbone of a new longitudinal connection to the center of Madrid.
The Paseo de Extremadura will become the Southwest Green Promenade, a large pedestrian green axis that will connect the neighborhoods of the Latina district – Lucero, Aluche, and Las Águilas – with Campamento and Casa de Campo (the latter belonging to the Moncloa-Aravaca district), separated since 1968 by the highway.
Covering the A-5 will allow for the continuation of the pedestrianized boulevard of Avenida de Portugal, connecting with Madrid Río. In addition to reclaiming the space occupied by asphalt for residents, pedestrian mobility in public transport and road transport will be improved, resulting in enhanced road safety in the area. It will solve congestion problems in conflictive connections such as Paseo de Extremadura, Batán, and Boadilla.
‘Soft’ mobility will be encouraged through the construction of a 3.5-kilometer bidirectional signalized bike lane, starting on Calle Illescas and connecting with the existing one on Avenida de Portugal, linking to Madrid Río. This will promote the use of this mode of transportation to access the center. On the surface, there will be wider sidewalks and 33 new pedestrian connections compared to the current 16, facilitating pedestrian traffic.
Reduction of the impact of the works
The City Council initiated these works with the commitment to minimize their impact. For this reason, at no time has the A-5 been closed, but lanes have been reduced, with a mobility plan designed and coordinated with all administrations and dynamically adapted to the needs of the works.
The Department of Urbanism, Environment, and Mobility informs about each action taken, not only through the usual channels of the Madrid City Council and the citizen service office located in the district but also through a specific website to inform interested users.
Progress of the tunnel excavation
The new tunnel is being constructed using the cut and cover method. Part of the highway has already disappeared, and the six pedestrian crossings planned for this phase (Illescas, Boadilla, Sanchorreja, San Juan de la Mata, Villavaliente, and Villamanín) have been closed. The next impacts on pedestrian crossability will occur as work progresses on the links, such as in Boadilla, where interventions are currently underway. In the section of the work from Avenida del Padre Piquer to Batán (lot 1), shoring (propping with wood and struts) and excavation to place the upper slab have begun, specifically between Calle Illescas and the Boadilla link.
The underground will have a distribution of three lanes per direction in two spans. The lanes closest to the median on both carriageways are designed for use as bus-VAO lanes, equipped with variable signage to regulate their use according to traffic needs at any given time. The flexibility of this system will allow for the optimization of the infrastructure, adapting to the variable transportation demand.
The execution project of the Southwest Green Promenade will allow for the creation of new green areas for residents on the 80,000 square meters of surface created above the new tunnel that buries the A-5. It will feature over 7,200 trees: 6,956 coniferous trees will be planted, and 330 trees (308 deciduous and 22 coniferous) will be transplanted. /
