The M-30, near Ventas, will feature a new 2,834 m² green space in the form of vertical gardens. It will span a 400-meter stretch between km 5.9 and 6.3 of the M-30—”the point where the city’s heaviest traffic is concentrated,” according to the Madrid City Council—which features six lanes in each direction.
The new green infrastructure will consist of 34 Mediterranean species that, in addition to providing an ornamental touch, will primarily act as a filter against pollution, either by trapping airborne particles or by absorbing compounds such as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.
Regarding maintenance, the Madrid City Council has explained that an automated and smart irrigation system will be used , utilizing recycled and treated water from the Canal de Isabel II.
With these, the capital will now have two vertical gardens on the ring road, following the installation in 2023 of the first ones on Avenida de la Ilustración under the name Calle 30 Natura.
What are the effects of installing vegetation along the M-30?
A project of this nature could reduce the heat island effect, decrease noise pollution, and improve air quality. It may also encourage the presence of pollinating insects and birds in the area, serving as “a magnet for biodiversity.”
When will work begin to install vegetation along the M-30?
The Madrid City Council plans to begin construction this summer, with work expected to continue“until early 2027, carried out at night to minimize disruption to traffic.” The project, meanwhile, has a base tender budget of 6.2 million euros.
The controversy over Parque de Ventas: “It’s a call for gentrification”
The location where this stretch of vegetation will be installed on the M-30 is next to the future Ventas Park, the project through which the Madrid City Council aims to “landscapically” connect the districts of Ciudad Lineal and Salamanca.
However, residents of these districts have expressed their opposition to the project through the Platform of Those Affected by the M-30, as they believe it will “fuel gentrification and the use of apartments for tourism.”