The Madrid City Council faces the most ambitious phase of the undergrounding of the A-5, one of the great urban works of the moment, with a change that from Monday will directly affect the 80,000 vehicles per day that circulate on this road. From 6:00 a.m., all traffic in both directions will be diverted to the southbound carriageway, in the section between Avenida de Portugal and Avenida del Padre Piquer, maintaining only two lanes in each direction while the northbound carriageway is completely free for the excavation of the future exit tunnel. This detour, barring unforeseen circumstances, will last until November 2026, the same month in which the new underpass is scheduled to open completely.
The maximum speed remains limited to 50 km/h, but the configuration of the route is simplified with fewer curves compared to previous detours, and the links to Boadilla, Yébenes, Batán and Parque de Atracciones will continue to require longer detours due to the demolition of old structures. Once this phase is completed,the main avenue of Avenida de Portugal (already pedestrianized) will be extended as a green, walkable boulevard to Padre Piquer, transforming mobility and public space between the neighborhoods of Lucero, Aluche, Las Águilas, Campamento and Casa de Campo.
The new A-5 tunnel
The new tunnel, once completed, will have three lanes in each direction and two independent spans. The central lanes will be flexible for use as a bus-VAO with variable signaling, which will make it possible to adapt to real traffic demand and to prioritize public transport or shared vehicles depending on the time of day or special events. The undergrounding will mean a radical change for the district: it is expected that 90% of vehicles will cease to circulate on the surface, polluting emissions will fall drastically and the space freed up will be used to create up to 3.2 kilometers of pedestrian zones, cycle paths, facilities and green areas.
The project, valued at more than 400 million euros, consolidates the transformation begun with Madrid Río and responds to a historic neighborhood demand. After this first phase, the second will extend the tunnel 700 meters further to the border with the M-40, improving the connection with neighborhoods such as Cuatro Vientos and Dehesa del Príncipe.