On March 10, the underpass on Illescas Street in Madrid will be closed as part of the works on the A-5. The City Council of Madrid will be closing a total of six underground passages, starting with that of Illescas Street. Borja Carabante, delegate for Urban Planning, Environment, and Mobility, mentioned that the closure will affect mobility in the area.
"We offer alternatives such as the walkway of the Cyclist Green Ring and the underpass on Padre Piquer Avenue," Carabante stated. These closures are causing concern among local residents, who will have to take alternative routes for the next two years, affecting traffic from Lucero to Batán.
Additionally, other underground passageways are being closed, and detour measures will be taken on the A-5, such as on San Juan de la Mata Street. This progressive planning also includes the closure of the underpass on Villavaliente Street.
On the other hand, the nighttime closure of the southbound lane of the A-5 is announced to divert traffic. Residents of Móstoles and Alcorcón have reported congestion, especially in the bus lane to Cuatro Vientos, despite the City Council's refusal to extend it to Príncipe Pío.
Changes in mobility have drawn criticism and concern among neighbors and regular users of the area. Municipal authorities defend the adjustments made and emphasize the reduction of vehicular traffic and the increase of users at stations like Cuatro Vientos.
Regarding the elimination of several underground passages, the goal is to improve urban mobility in the long term. Another pedestrian crossing will be closed next week at the Boadilla interchange.
The mayor of Madrid and other municipal representatives urge trust in the technical adjustments of the mobility plan and suggest seeking joint solutions to mitigate the inconveniences to affected citizens.
