The tunnel works that aim to transform the Paseo de Extremadura into the Paseo Verde del Suroeste in Madrid continue their course, with their last objective achieved: that of connecting the two excavation sections. Little by little, progress gives us a glimpse of the end of a work that is marking the day to day of thousands of neighbors during the last year. And if not tell it to our colleague Javier Pastor, who has been suffering from constant interruptions network as a consequence.
Advance. Last Friday, the gap between two tunnel excavation fronts was completed, an operation that consists of connecting two separately drilled galleries to provide continuity to the underground layout. Thanks to this technical procedure, 700 linear meters of the tunnel are linked.
According to reported Madrid City Council, to date 1.9 kilometers of the 5.1 planned have been excavated in both directions and 81.7% of the covering slab has been placed. This same process will be repeated in the coming weeks in the rest of the sections until the infrastructure is completed.
The deadlines. The delegate of Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility of the Madrid City Council, Borja Carabante, counted to El Mundo that “the tunnel hole will be completed in April.” According to Carabante, from that moment on, paving work, installation of extractors, emergency exits and other technical infrastructure requirements will remain pending.
The opening of the subway to traffic is scheduled for the end of 2026, so the initial deadlines are maintained despite the meteorological and logistical complications of the last year.
Surface improvements. Just like they count From Diario de Madrid, since last Thursday, traffic entering or leaving the M-30 tunnel along Avenida de Portugal once again circulates in a straight line along 500 meters of the A-5, between kilometer points 3+250 and 3+750.
Having completed the work on the covering slabs around the Amusement Park, it has been possible to recover the original layout without the detour. In addition, according to the media, a connecting branch of about 60 meters is being built between Avenida de Portugal and the A-5 to prevent traffic from being diverted onto Calle de Dante.
The dark side. A year after construction began, residents are still dealing with significant disruptions. According to collect El País, the problems range from the deafening noise of machinery to water and electricity outages, to the deterioration of air quality due to dust from drilling.
The president of the Batán neighborhood association, Arturo Sáez, resume The situation is seen in the middle as a “perfect storm”: the closure of the underpasses in August forced the activation of traffic lights and circular buses, while traffic to the Amusement Park and the Zoo collapses the neighborhood on weekends.
Added to this are recurring internet outages due to damage to the fiber optics, the last of which has affected Movistar and O2 customers in areas such as Aluche, Campamento and Pozuelo.
The ultimate goal. The work aims to transform the Paseo de Extremadura into the Paseo Verde del Suroeste, a 3.2 kilometer pedestrian axis that will connect neighborhoods in the Latina district (Lucero, Aluche, Las Águilas) with Campamento and Casa de Campo, separated since 1968 by the A5, on which some 80,000 vehicles circulate daily.
The idea is that the coverage will reduce surface traffic by 90%, promising to reduce polluting emissions. It will also incorporate a 3.5 kilometer bi-directional cycle path, 33 new pedestrian connections compared to the current 16 and wider sidewalks. The project, with an investment of 408 million euros, seeks to continue the pedestrianized boulevard from Avenida de Portugal to Avenida del Padre Piquer.
What remains to be done. The most complex challenge of the summer will be to execute the connection with the Portugal Avenue tunnel, which will force new traffic cuts similar to those of the last summer period. Borja Carabante assured that “the most difficult thing has already happened,” but acknowledged that diverting services such as gas, water, telephone or electricity continues to be a complicated task due to the age of the plans. The work maintains its pace with more than 600 workers and 400 machines operating simultaneously.
Cover image | Madrid Diary
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