First Phase of Accessibility Improvement Works in the Unión Eléctrica Colony
The Madrid City Council has given the green light to the third and final phase of accessibility improvement works in the historic Unión Eléctrica colony, located in the Chamartín district. This announcement was made by the Deputy Mayor and Municipal Spokesperson, Inma Sanz, during a press conference following the Government Board meeting. The works, to be carried out by the Works and Equipment Department, will involve an investment of 1.6 million euros, starting this spring and extending until the first quarter of 2026. The project will cover an area of 7,097 m2 and will affect the streets Primera, Cuarta, Décima, Undécima, and Ángel de Diego Roldán.
The interventions aim to address the issues related to pedestrian circulation in this colony, which is severely hindered by inappropriate traffic speed and the lack of functionality of the sidewalks, making them practically unusable for walking due to their narrowness and the presence of large trees whose roots lift the pavement. Therefore, the project includes the implementation of a single platform on all affected streets to improve pedestrian traffic flow and comply with accessibility regulations.
The intervention will also involve homogenous paving of sidewalks, roadways, and parking spaces with gray cobblestones of various sizes, providing coherence to the project and differentiating the colony from the surrounding city. Additionally, existing trees will be respected, six specimens will be replaced due to their poor condition, and tree pits and surrounding sidewalks will be paved with small cobblestones to adapt to the roots. Furthermore, electricity and telecommunication networks will be buried to enhance the aesthetics and safety of the colony.
This newly approved third phase will complement a completed first phase that involved an investment of 1.1 million euros and a second phase currently in progress, expected to finish this spring with a budget of 1.4 million euros.
Investment Commitment in Historic Colonies
The Unión Eléctrica colony, with a total budget of 4.1 million euros, is not the only historic colony where the City Council is focusing its efforts. The Council has already completed the renovation of the Cruz del Rayo colony, consisting of three phases and requiring an investment of 2.6 million euros. In the Primo de Rivera colony, a first phase has been executed with a budget of 1 million euros, a second phase is currently underway and set to finish this summer with a budget of 1.5 million euros, and a third phase is planned with an investment of another 1.5 million euros.
On the other hand, improvements in the Iturbe IV-El Viso colony consist of four phases. The first phase, currently in progress, will end this summer with an investment of 2.2 million euros, while the remaining three phases will add an additional budget of 3 million euros.
In total, the accessibility improvement works in the historic colonies of the Chamartín district will amount to an investment of 15.9 million euros. /
