A-5 link to Madrid's M-30 closed to traffic 10 November to 23 December

What closes and when

The direct connection between the A-5 and the M-30 tunnels will be closed to traffic in both directions from Tuesday, 10 November, for 43 days until 23 December 2026. The city says the closure is needed for the final works on the undergrounding of the motorway. Traffic on the A-5 works section will keep running at the surface with two lanes in each direction. Drivers heading into Madrid who used to join the M-30 directly will have to continue along the paseo de Extremadura. On the outbound side, the accesses to the A-5 from the M-30 inner carriageway and from the Casa de Campo turnoff will also close.

The engineering work

The works will complete the 172 metres that separate the new A-5 tunnel from the existing M-30 tunnel at the avenida de Portugal. Crews will demolish the current ramp and excavate about 7,000 cubic metres of earth. They will install 128 prefabricated beams, which add to the 14 placed during the summer, to complete the 142 planned for the deck of the connection. All of this work falls inside the same 43-day window.

Key dates

The closure begins on Tuesday, 10 November. The first bus reinforcement phase runs from 10 to 26 November. The stronger reinforcement phase starts on 27 November, and the closure ends on 23 December. Both the closure and the reinforcement period end on 23 December.

Detours around the city

The city council recommends the M-40 as the main way to bypass Madrid, with connections via the A-42, the A-6 and the M-503. For longer trips the municipal plan also lists the M-45, the M-50 and the R-5. Local routes through the affected districts run via the Yébenes junction, calle de Sepúlveda, Batán, paseo de Extremadura and avenida de Portugal. The new traffic layout adds signal-controlled crossings at Yébenes, Batán, Villagarcía and Huerta de Castañeda.

Public transport reinforcement

The city and the Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM) built the plan around public transport as the main alternative to private cars. In the first phase, from 10 to 26 November, the municipal operator EMT will increase the fleet on lines 31, 36, 39, 138 and 158 by up to 15.4% on weekdays, shortening the intervals between buses to between half a minute and a minute and a half depending on the line. From 27 November to 23 December the increase reaches 25% on weekdays, Saturdays and holidays. Line 33, which serves Casa de Campo, joins at weekends, and reserve vehicles will support night services, especially on the N19. The SE2 shuttle between Plaza Elíptica, Aluche and Cuatro Vientos and the free SE3 circular between Batán and Lucero stay in service. Metro de Madrid keeps its full fleet on lines 3 and 10, and line 10 may add trains from Puerta del Sur. Interurban buses serving Móstoles, Alcorcón and Navalcarnero can add larger vehicles to handle more passengers.

10-26 November 202615.4%

27 November-23 December 202625%

10-26 November 2026

15.4 %

27 November-23 December 2026

25 %

Data from the article text