Madrid is preparing to transform one of its least beautiful squares. Right now it is an absolute chaos of pedestrians, cars, buses and terraces and a new reform hopes to put an end to the problem.
This is the Plaza de Jacinto Benavente, located in the Centro district of the capital. The works will begin after Christmas and the City Council will allocate 9.5 million euros, as explained by the municipal deputy mayor, Inma Sanz, after the weekly meeting of the Governing Board. Its completion is scheduled for the spring of 2027.
The project will transform more than 10,000 square meters, including the square itself and also Carretas street, Bolsa street, Atocha street and the intersection with Concepción Jerónima street and Doctor Cortezo street, as reported by the Madrid City Council.
More space for pedestrians
With the remodeling, the Plaza de Jacinto Benavente will increase its pedestrian area. Only one lane of traffic will be allowed in the direction of Calle de la Cruz for public transport lines, loading and unloading vehicles and the rest of the cars. In addition, one of the two bus docks will be eliminated, which will force the relocation of bus stops.
The exit from the Doctor Cortezo street tunnel to Cruz street will also be cancelled, leaving this ramp as access to the subway parking lot. Thus, the only exit will be from Concepción Jerónima street.
The entrance to the parking lot from Atocha Street will not be allowed either, which will facilitate pedestrian safety and eliminate long queues between cars.
A square full of trees
Beyond improving traffic, the new project is committed to sustainability and green spaces. A landscaped area will be built at ground level, which will be integrated into the subway parking lot, so that in the future it can become a Sustainable Mobility Center.
It will include a stairway with a bicycle lane and an elevator that will connect the different levels. The parterre will also allow light to enter the parking lot and enhance the beauty of the landscape.
After the renovation, Jacinto Benavente square will have 3105 square meters dedicated to pedestrians and trees. In the center of the square, a large pergola with a broken roof will be integrated, in reference to the old farmhouse that dominated the square. Its main function will be to provide shade and to alleviate the heat with water spray in the summer months.
The intervention is part of a plan to transform the center of Madrid, which has already transformed the Plaza de Matute and will continue with the Plaza de Tirso de Molina, scheduled for next spring. According to the consistory, all these works will allow a greater pedestrianization and a more efficient distribution of public transport.