There are times when the new means returning to the origins, and this principle has guided the work currently underway around the Puerta de Alcalá: renovations that will restore the monument to the appearance it had until the 1960s and allow people to stroll beneath its arches.
The project, which has been approved by UNESCO, the Local Historical Heritage Commission, and the Civic and Social Council of the Paisaje de la Luz, and involves an investment of 6.1 million euros, seeks to restore the prominence it deserves to one of the main heritage elements of the Paisaje de la Luz.
To this end, it will feature a new walkable median that will provide better visibility and a better view of the Puerta de Alcalá along the entire stretch connecting Cibeles Square and Independence Square.
At the same time, the north sidewalk—where pedestrian traffic is typically heaviest—will be significantly widened, and“the street’s original double row of trees, which disappeared in the late 1960s when the roadwaywas widened,will be restored ,” according to the Madrid City Council.
How is the construction affecting traffic in the area?
As of this Monday, the two lanes (one in each direction) that have been closed since mid-July are once again open to traffic. From now on, and once the work is completed, that section of Calle de Alcalá will have three lanes in each direction: two for general traffic and one for public transportation.
In Plaza de la Independencia, meanwhile, several lanes will remain occupied, so that four lanes will be open for entry into Retiro Park, and five lanes will be open in the rest of the plaza. In both cases, one of the lanes will be reserved for public transportation.
When will the renovation work on the Puerta de Alcalá be completed?
Work began last February and will continue through the first quarter of 2027. However, the portion of the work affecting both Calle de Alcalá and the central circle of the plaza where the Puerta de Alcalá is located will be completed before the end of the year, meaning visitors will already be able to walk under the monument’s arches.
More developments in the Puerta de Alcalá renovation project
Among the measures to be carried out in the surrounding area are the planting of 57 new large trees and shrubs, the renovation of the pavement and road surface, the replacement of streetlights to better suit the historic setting, the creation of a dedicated bike lane, and improvements to accessibility, among others.