The renovation project for Alcalá Street will allow citizens to stroll among its archways
The double row of trees that was removed in the 1960s will also be restored
The renovated area will extend from Cibeles Square to Independence Square
Simulación del aspecto de la Puerta de Alcalá tras la remodelación
02/02/2026. Madrid has decided to bring one of its most emblematic icons, the Puerta de Alcalá, a little closer to its citizens. This will be achieved through a comprehensive renovation that will improve the section of Alcalá Street between Plaza de la Independencia, where the Puerta is located, and Plaza de Cibeles.
This renovation project has received the approval of UNESCO, the Local Commission for Historical Heritage, and the Civic and Social Council of the Landscape of Light. We’ll tell you what it will entail.
A nod to history: the Puerta becomes a gate again
The aim of the project is to restore the street’s historical layout and highlight the Puerta de Alcalá.
Decades ago, people strolled through spaces like Plaza de la Independencia or Plaza de Cibeles much closer to the monuments than the current streets allow.
The renovation project will restore some of that proximity by constructing a central pedestrian walkway that will allow users to enjoy better views of the monument.
The project restores one of the layouts from the late 19th century, in which Alcalá Street is connected to the triangular area currently used as a contemplative space. To achieve this, a new pedestrian walkway will be created on the west side, in addition to adapting the existing walkway on the east. This approach not only integrates people into the monument but also allows them to walk through it, recalling its original function as a gateway to the city.
A Greener Promenade
This isn’t the only nod to the past in this project. The original double row of trees along the street, which disappeared in the late 1960s when the road was widened, will also be restored. Fifty-seven new large trees will be planted, and strips of shrubs will be added to the new central promenade and the south sidewalk. Madrid thus continues to adapt to become a greener and more welcoming city for residents and visitors alike.
New Roadway and Sidewalk Configuration
The enhancement of the Puerta de Alcalá with this central pedestrian walkway, 3.8 meters wide, will be just one part of this €6.1 million renovation.
These are some of the other improvements that will be carried out in this section:
- Reduction of the current lanes (there will be three in each direction, two for general traffic and one for public transport)
- Widening of the north sidewalk, which, according to studies, bears the greatest pedestrian traffic
- Creation of a segregated bike lane on the south side. It will connect with the bike lane on Serrano Street and will also provide access to Retiro Park
- Renewal of all the paving, which will consist of granite slabs and cobblestones, and the asphalt of the roadway
Other improvements: lighting, transport, and more
The remaining improvements are aimed at enhancing functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability, to highlight this Madrid icon while renewing a space that is used by thousands of people every day.
- Modification of the monument’s lighting (location of light points and improvement of the projectors)
- Replacement of the streetlights with a new lamppost model. It will follow the historical design of Alcalá Street but adapted to high-energy-efficiency LED technology.
- Renovation and expansion of street furniture.
- Reorganization of the spaces designated for outdoor seating areas for use by local restaurants and bars.
- Improved accessibility through new pedestrian routes and adapted bus stops.
- Redistribution of public transport (increased number of stops and creation of bus islands).
The works will also affect Alfonso XI and Pedro Muñoz Seca streets, adapting their intersections to the new configuration. On Alfonso XI Street, work will also be carried out on the block between Alcalá and Valenzuela streets to widen the west sidewalk. The new parallel parking will allow for the planting of six new trees.
The works are expected to last approximately one year: from February 2026 to the first quarter of 2027.
Get your camera ready because very soon you’ll be able to walk through the Puerta de Alcalá and stop beneath the neoclassical arches designed by Francesco Sabatini.
