BTN News: The promise of transforming Madrid’s M-30 into a more livable, community-friendly space was a significant talking point during the 2023 municipal elections. José Luis MartÃnez-Almeida, the People’s Party (PP) candidate and then mayor, assured residents that, if re-elected, his administration would undertake the ambitious project of burying a 300-meter section of the M-30 near the Puente de Ventas. The idea was to create a green corridor connecting the neighborhoods of Ciudad Lineal and Salamanca, thus improving the urban environment and quality of life for the residents in these areas. However, as is often the case with grand political promises, the reality has turned out to be less impressive.
Fast forward to the present, and with Almeida having been re-elected, the project has indeed moved forward, but not without significant alterations. The original vision of a 300-meter-long green space has been drastically cut down to just 179 meters. The section that was supposed to begin at the Puente de Ventas, offering a continuous pedestrian route from areas like Parque El Calero, will now start further south, where the on- and off-ramps to the M-30 are located. This adjustment leaves a considerable portion of the original plan unfulfilled, much to the dismay of local residents who were looking forward to a more significant transformation.
Residents near the affected area, particularly those from the streets close to San Emilio, are less than thrilled with this scaled-down version of the project. For them, the trade-off between the proposed improvement and the disruption caused by the construction is hard to justify. As one resident pointed out, the neighborhood will endure at least two years of upheaval for what they consider a lackluster end result. The disappointment is palpable, with locals questioning the value of the project when there are already existing pedestrian bridges nearby and other more pressing urban issues that need addressing.
The environmental impact of the project has also raised concerns. The initial plans include the felling of approximately 49 trees, some of which are over 75 years old. While the city has committed to planting more than 200 new trees in the surrounding area and on the new structure, there are doubts about how effective this will be. The space allocated for these new trees—just 1.25 meters—may not be enough for them to grow to their full potential, raising questions about whether they will truly be able to provide the shade and greenery the community expects.
City officials, including Paloma GarcÃa Romero, the delegate for Public Works, have defended the changes, citing the need to avoid destroying crucial infrastructure like the ramps accessing the Puente de Ventas and nearby facilities such as Metro depots and the Canal de Isabel II reservoir. However, these justifications have done little to quell the frustration among locals. For many, the modifications feel like a significant downgrade from what was initially promised, reducing what could have been a transformative project into a mere token gesture.
Criticism of the project extends beyond the immediate impact on traffic and green spaces. Residents like Roberto and Laura, who live near the proposed construction area, express a sense of being short-changed by the city’s plans. While they acknowledge that the area around the M-30 near Ventas has long needed improvement, they argue that the current plan lacks ambition and fails to address broader community needs. Roberto, for instance, mentions that existing sports facilities in the area are in poor condition and that public spaces like fountains are neglected. Meanwhile, Laura is skeptical about the effectiveness of the proposed tree-planting scheme, given the limited space available for the trees to root and grow.
Despite the grievances, some residents remain cautiously optimistic, hoping that even this scaled-back version of the project will bring some benefits to the neighborhood. For instance, Laura, who lives close to the San Emilio pedestrian bridge, appreciates the idea of having a green space closer to home, even if it doesn’t fully meet expectations. Yet, there is a lingering doubt about whether the project will deliver on its promises or if it will simply become another example of a political gesture that falls short in practice.
Ultimately, while the project to partially cover the M-30 near Puente de Ventas represents a step towards improving the urban landscape in Madrid, the significant reduction in scope has left many residents feeling disappointed. The contrast between the initial promise and the eventual reality has sparked debate about the city’s priorities and the effectiveness of its urban planning initiatives. As construction proceeds, the true impact of this project will become clear, but for now, the residents of Ciudad Lineal and Salamanca are left wondering what could have been.
