On Tuesday, November 10, the final phase of the A-5 underground project begins: connecting the new tunnel to the M-30 tunnel as it passes through Avenida de Portugal. For 43 days, until December 23, traffic will be completely cut off at the entrance and exit between the A-5 and the M-30. If everything goes according to plan, the tunnel will open on December 23, and 90% of the 80,000 vehicles that previously crossed the A-5 at ground level each day will use it.
The delegate for Urban Planning, Environment, and Mobility, Borja Carabante, presented the mobility plan at CentroCentro, where a model of the Paseo Verde del Suroeste—the park that will occupy the surface area once the tunnel is completed—is on display. Carabante assured that the road closure has been kept to a minimum.
What will be done along the 172-meter stretch
The City Council must complete the 172 meters separating the two tunnel tubes. The first task will be to remove the pavement and excavate the temporary ramp on the future southbound roadway (toward Madrid), requiring the removal of approximately 7,000 m³ of soil. The tie beam supporting the ramp and the transverse piles that are in the way will also be demolished.
The roof will consist of 142 prefabricated 30-meter beams. Fourteen were installed during the summer construction phase, and 128 remain to be installed. Next will come the sealing of approximately 4,200 meters of joints, a slab made of nearly 1,000 m³ of concrete, and the upper waterproofing layer.
At the same time, crews will be working inside the tunnel: shotcreting the end walls, installing drainage, sidewalks, and piping, and completing the partition wall in the 40 meters closest to Madrid. Cameras, communications systems, fire detection and suppression systems, emergency posts, and 470 light fixtures will be installed, in addition to 1,400 m² of cladding panels. The final section is reserved for testing each system and conducting integration tests with the rest of the tunnel.
Enhanced public transportation
The City Council urges residents to use public transportation and avoid the area. From November 10 to 26, on weekdays, bus routes 31, 36, 39, 138, and 158 will be reinforced with up to 15.4% more buses, thereby improving service intervals to between 0.5 and 1.5 minutes. From November 27 to December 23, for the holiday season, the increase will rise to 25%, including on Saturdays and holidays. On weekends, route 33 (Casa de Campo) will also be in service. Reserve vehicles will be available for night service, particularly on the N19. The SE2 shuttle (Plaza Elíptica, Aluche, and Cuatro Vientos; see the SE2 stop chart) and the free SE3 circular route between Batán and Lucero (SE3 stops) will continue to operate.
Metro de Madrid will keep its entire fleet in service on Lines 10 and 3. On Line 10, trains could be stationed at Puerta del Sur and operate in a loop if demand requires it.
The Cercanías and intercity lines to Móstoles, Alcorcón, and Navalcarnero will be reinforced if necessary. On the Cercanías network, a possible additional train on the C-5 line between Móstoles and Embajadores is still pending confirmation by Renfe. Additionally, starting November 11, Adif construction work between Villaverde Alto and Atocha will shorten the C-5 route on the Atocha-Humanes branch at Villaverde Alto.
If you’re driving on the A-5
There will be two lanes in each direction in the construction zone, with new traffic-light-controlled intersections in Yébenes, Batán, Villagarcía, and Huerta de Castañeda, as well as new pedestrian routes. Traffic will not be permitted from the M-30 toward the A-5 past the Casa de Campo exit, which will be closed, nor from the inner M-30 toward the A-5 in the direction of the exit. From the A-5 toward the M-30 in the direction of Madrid, drivers will have to take a detour via Paseo de Extremadura.
Long-term outlook:
From the north and west, access will be via the M-40, the M-503, and the M-500 (Puente de los Franceses), or via the M-40 and the A-6 toward the M-30. From the south, take the A-5-R and its junction with the M-40, which connects to the M-30 north via the M-503 and to the M-30 south via the A-42; the M-45, M-50, or R-5 are also viable options. To leave Madrid, you can take the A-42 or the Vía Lusitana toward the M-40, or the General Ricardos exit toward Avenida de los Poblados. From the M-30 north, the preferred route is the A-6, the M-40, and the A-5 toward the exit near Cuatro Vientos. There is a map of long-distance routes.
Local routes:
To enter Madrid from the north via the M-511, take the M-500 to the Puente de los Franceses and Avenida de Séneca (entry map). Those arriving via the A-5 can exit at the Yébenes interchange and continue along Sepúlveda, Concejal Francisco José Jiménez Martín, and Duquesa de Parcent-General Ricardos to the M-30. To exit (exit map), from the M-30 north, take exit 19A via Paseo Marqués de Monistrol, Paseo de Extremadura, and Avenida de Portugal. From the Segovia Bridge, take Saavedra Fajardo, Pablo Casals, and Sepúlveda. From the Puerta de Toledo roundabout, take Paseo de los Pontones, the San Isidro Bridge, Vía Carpetana, and Concejal Francisco José Jiménez Martín Street.