Gran Vía will no longer be just the grand boulevard that serves as the backbone of the capital’s life and leisure; it will now also have a counterpart in the southern part of the city. The Madrid City Council has given the green light to one of the major projects of this legislative term: the transformation of Gran Vía del Sureste, in the Ensanche de Vallecas neighborhood, into a tree-lined boulevard that is much more pedestrian-friendly. The project, with a budget of 13.1 million euros, will transform an oversized avenue designed primarily for vehicular traffic into the first section of a 16-kilometer green corridor that will connect all the new developments in the southeast.
The project focuses on the section between Avenida de las Suertes and the roundabout next to the A-3, where there is currently an unused strip of land in the center of the road. A central boulevard covering more than 21,000 m², 560 meters long and 37.6 meters wide, will be built on this space, serving as the backbone of the new landscape.
This boulevard will feature: rest areas, playgrounds, wellness and calisthenics areas, walking paths, new street furniture, and drinking fountains.
At the heart of the boulevard, there will also be an ornamental fountain covering approximately 180 m², featuring water features and integrated lighting, which will serve as a landmark and provide visual relief during the hottest months.
More trees, more shade, and a better quality of the environment
One of the project’s central objectives is to improve the environmental quality of the area, which is currently dominated by asphalt and wide roadways. The redevelopment includes planting 875 new trees, which will create continuous shaded areas and reinforce the project’s character as a “great green corridor.”
Alongside the trees , high-density landscaping with a diverse range of vegetation will be developed, featuring meadows, shrubs, and combined green roofs, as well as sustainable urban drainage systems to better manage rainwater and reduce runoff. The lighting will be upgraded with energy-efficient LED fixtures, reducing energy consumption and improving nighttime safety.
A section designed for pedestrians, bicycles, and Bus Rapid Transit
Gran Vía del Sureste will remain an avenue, but its layout will be completely reorganized to prioritize public transportation, pedestrians, and cyclists. From west to east, the new layout will include: a sidewalk, a segregated bike lane, on-street parking, a local traffic lane, a tree-lined median, two general traffic lanes, and two exclusive BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) lanes.
In addition, the dedicated lane in each direction for the future BRT system will connect the six neighborhoods in the southeast (Valdecarros, Ensanche de Vallecas, Berrocales, Los Ahijones, El Cañaveral, and Los Cerros), making this section a key component of the area’s new public transportation corridor.
Timeline: construction from September through spring 2028
The project will be carried out by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and is scheduled to begin in September 2026, according to municipal projections. The work is expected to continue through spring 2028, at which point the new tree-lined boulevard should be fully operational.
During this time, the central strip will be landscaped, lanes and sidewalks will be reorganized, and new trees and green spaces will be planted. The City Council frames this initiative as part of the so-called “Southern Strategy,” which includes various projects aimed at transforming the city’s nine southern districts into a driving force for urban, economic, and environmental transformation.