Madrid is facing the final stretch of one of its most ambitious urban development projects: the undergrounding of the A-5 highway. Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida and the municipal team have confirmed that work is proceeding according to plan and that the tunnel will be completed in November 2026.
This infrastructure will transform the western access to the capital, turning one of the busiest roads – with more than 80,000 vehicles a day – into a pedestrian and green boulevard, stitching together neighborhoods such as Lucero, Aluche, Las Águilas, Campamento and Casa de Campo.
Progress on the undergrounding of the A5 is on schedule
The progress data are convincing: 300 meters of tunnel have already been excavated, a large part of the piles and part of the upper slab have already been built, using the “cut and cover” technique to minimize the effects on traffic and guarantee safety, although there are sections, such as the one at the entrance to Boadilla del Monte, which are particularly complex.
The future tunnel will have three lanes in each direction, as well as a bus-VAO lane with variable signaling. The work has a direct impact not only on mobility, but also on quality of life, housing values and urban connectivity.
The undergrounding of the A-5 is linked to other major urban development projects, such as Operation Campamento, to revitalize southwest Madrid with thousands of new homes and services. Neighbors will see the current route disappear in favor of a tree-lined corridor and public spaces for leisure and sports, transforming the district of Latina.
The future Paseo Verde del Suroeste
At the urban level, the current nine crosswalks will disappear, giving way to a completely renovated surface area that will include 80,000 m² of green areas and a boulevard that will extend Avenida de Portugal as far as Padre Piquer, reducing surface traffic by 90% and improving air quality and integration between neighborhoods.
One of the major improvements will be ‘soft’ mobility: a 3.5-kilometer bi-directional and traffic-light bike lane will be built, linking with Madrid Río, while the sidewalks will be wider and the number of pedestrian connections will increase from 16 to 33. The aim of the work, according to Almeida, is to recover spaces for residents, solve historical traffic problems and transform Madrid into a friendlier city.