The new pedestrian median will offer a better view of the Puerta de Alcalá, one of the main heritage elements of the Landscape of Light.
The works affecting Alcalá Street and the Puerta de Alcalá roundabout will be completed in November, so citizens will then be able to walk beneath the monument.
The street’s original double row of trees, which disappeared in the late 1960s when the road was widened, will be restored.
The north sidewalk, which bears the greatest volume of pedestrian traffic, is being substantially widened.
The project has the approval of UNESCO, the Local Commission for Historical Heritage, and the Civic and Social Council of the Landscape of Light.
The renovation of Alcalá Street between Cibeles and Independencia squares will enter a new phase with the start of construction on the new 3.8-meter-wide central promenade. This will allow residents and visitors to enjoy a better view of the Puerta de Alcalá, one of the main landmarks of the Landscape of Light.
This phase will mean that, on the section of Alcalá Street between Independencia and Cibeles squares, the lane closest to the median in the Cibeles direction and the lane closest to the median in the Independencia direction will be closed to traffic. This closure is expected to last until the end of August, with two lanes for general traffic (including buses and taxis) remaining open in each direction at all times.
The work has been scheduled to take place during July and August to minimize disruption during the summer holidays. The Madrid City Council recommends using public transport and avoiding, as much as possible, driving private vehicles in the area affected by the construction work.
Enhancing the Landscape of Light
The renovation of Alcalá Street between Cibeles and Independencia, carried out by the Department of Works and Infrastructure, aims to restore the street’s historic layout and enhance the Puerta de Alcalá (Alcalá Gate).
The works began last February and will continue until the first quarter of 2027, although the portion of the work affecting Alcalá Street and the Puerta de Alcalá roundabout will be completed this November, allowing citizens to walk under the arches of the monument.
The project, which represents an investment of 6.1 million euros, has the approval of UNESCO, the Local Commission for Historical Heritage, and the Civic and Social Council of the Landscape of Light.
Alcalá Street
The project envisions a section with two lanes plus a bus lane in each direction, a 3.8-meter-wide central promenade, and a segregated bike lane on the south side. The space gained by reducing the current lanes will allow for a substantial widening of the north sidewalk, which bears the greatest pedestrian traffic on the street, and the restoration of the historic double row of trees with the planting of 57 new large trees, one of the essential features of this thoroughfare that had been lost. Additionally, strips of shrubbery will be planted along both sidewalks and the central promenade.
The project includes the complete renovation of the pavement, which will consist of granite slabs and cobblestones, and the resurfacing of the roadway. Furthermore, the streetlights will be replaced with a lamppost model appropriate to the heritage setting, based on the historical design used on Alcalá Street, but with high-energy-efficiency LED technology. This will be complemented by the renovation and expansion of street furniture and the reorganization of the spaces designated for outdoor seating areas.
Plaza de la Independencia
The renovation will visually and functionally integrate the Puerta de Alcalá, reducing its character as an isolated monument in a roundabout and bringing it closer to the public. In this regard, the garden will be remodeled to recover one of the layouts from the late 19th century, allowing for pedestrian permeability that connects Calle Alcalá with the triangular area currently used as a space for contemplation. To achieve this, a new pedestrian crossing will be created on the west side of the plaza, in addition to improving the existing crossing on the east. Furthermore, a study of the monument’s lighting will be carried out, modifying the location of the light fixtures and upgrading the projectors.
The project will retain most of the existing paving of the plaza’s sidewalks, which was laid in 2009. Accessibility will be improved with new pathways to pedestrian crossings and public transport stops to comply with universal accessibility standards. Additionally, one lane will be removed to create a segregated bike lane connecting the bike lane on Alcalá Street with the one on Serrano Street, also providing access to Retiro Park. The plaza’s renovation will be completed with the renewal and expansion of street furniture, the resurfacing of the entire plaza roadway, and the redistribution of public transport routes, increasing the number of stops and creating islands for bus shelters.
Alfonso XI and Pedro Muñoz Seca Streets
On Alfonso XI Street, work will be carried out on the block between Alcalá Street and Valenzuela Street to widen the west sidewalk and change the parking lane from angled to parallel, which will allow for a new row of trees with six new specimens. The paving will follow the same criteria as those on Alcalá Street, adjusting their dimensions in relation to the scale of the street. As for Pedro Muñoz Seca Street, work will only be carried out to adapt the entrance to the new configuration of Alcalá Street.
