Carlos Guisasola Madrid
Madrid
Updated Wednesday, February 28, 2024-13:23
By surprise, without prior echo, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, mayor of Madrid, has announced during the informative meeting organized by Nueva Economía Fórum, the comprehensive remodeling of the Landscape of Light, between Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta de Alcalá.
A metamorphosis that will begin on the north and south flanks and that will illuminate a 7.5 meter wide boulevard to give more space to pedestrians, in a particularly tourist enclave, with the recently renovated monument as the protagonist.
The reorganization project, proposed by the Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility Department, will be put out to tender and executed by the Works and Equipment Department at the end of this year.
"Throughout this year, construction will begin on the boulevard that will go from Plaza de Cibeles to Puerta de Alcalá, increasing the pedestrian space around a monument so significant and loved by the people of Madrid," were Almeida's first words. about this plan in the Landscape of Light.
How will that central space be won?
Well, as usually happens, taking it away from the vehicles.
Traffic lanes will be reduced to only two in both directions.
That is, half towards Cibeles (it has four) and one less towards Puerta de Alcalá (it has three).
The large median that will emerge will be 7.5 meters wide and will be lined with trees and plants, to become a new walking area for passers-by.
Likewise, the bike lane located in the direction towards Cibeles will be widened to 2.6 meters, allowing it to be bidirectional and with the security of a 0.7 meter buffer to separate it from the bus lane.