This Wednesday, February 11, hundreds of tractors will fill the streets of Madrid as part of the protest organized by the Union of Farmers and Ranchers—which has also been joined by the National Union of Independent Primary Sector Associations (UNASPI)—to “raise awareness of the situation in the agricultural sector in the face of current agricultural policies and cuts,” explain the organizers.
The march, which was initially expected to include more than 1,000 tractors, will now have a maximum of 500—the number authorized by the Government Delegation. As for the route that the tractor march will follow, it will depart at around 11 a.m. from Plaza de Colón and arrive at the Ministry of Agriculture via Recoletos and Paseo del Prado.
The tractors will arrive in Madrid in columns, via five different routes, to converge in the capital, where the demonstration on foot will begin. Traffic disruptions will be in effect between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Complete route of the tractor convoy
Image courtesy of: Unión de Uniones
Column 1, coming from Torrejón de la Calzada
Enters via Vía Lusitana and continues along:
- Plaza Elíptica
- Marcelo Usera Street
- Vado de Santa Catalina Street
- Pasaje de la Canalización, crossing the Puente de Andalucía bridge
- Legazpi Square,
- Paseo de las Delicias
- Embajadores Street
- Puerta de Toledo
- Gran Vía de San Francisco
- Bailén Street
- Plaza de España
- Princess
- Alberto Aguilera
- Carranza
- Sagasta
- Alonso Martínez Square
- Genoa
- Colón
Columns 2 and 4, from Guadalajara and Robregordo
They enter Madrid via the M-111 and continue through the roundabout at the Ermita de la Virgen de la Soledad, Avenida de Logroño, Calle Alcalá, Francisco Silvela, Joaquín Costa, Paseo de la Castellana, and Plaza de Colón.
Column 3, from El Espinar
Continues in Madrid via Puente de los Franceses, Paseo de Ruperto Chapí, Paseo Camoens, Marqués de Urquijo, Princesa, Alberto Aguilera, Carranza, Sagasta, and Génova to Colón.
Column 5, coming from Arganda del Rey
Enter via Calle Pirotecnia and continue along Calle Aurora, Boreal, Avenida Democracia, Plaza Alonso, Calle Casalarreina, Avenida Daroca, M-23, Calle O’Donnell, Narváez and Goya to Colón.
Protesters on foot will enter via Paseo de la Infanta Isabel, opposite the Ministry of Agriculture, where the final rally will be held.
The return route
The tractors in column 1 (Torrejón de la Calzada) will travel along Paseo de Santa María de la Cabeza, Embajadores, Jaime el Conquistador, and Paseo de la Chopera to Legazpi, and from there to the starting point via the same route in reverse.
The tractors in columns 2, 3, 4, and 5 will turn at the Emperor Charles V roundabout and return via Paseo del Prado and Recoletos to Colón. From there, they will continue to their points of origin in the opposite direction.
The DGT warns of traffic disruptions
The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has issued a warning informing of the roads that will be affected by the arrival of the tractor convoys: They draw particular attention to the M-131, M-103, M-111, M-113, N-320, M-203, M-500, M-405, M-600, M-509, and M-505.
To avoid travel inconveniences, the DGT recommends using public transportation.