Madrid City Council has presented the Parque Castellana project, an initiative that will involve the undergrounding of almost 700 metres of the Paseo de la Castellana, in the section between Calle Sinesio Delgado and the North Junction of the M-30. The work, which has a municipal investment of almost 100 million euros, will begin before next summer and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2027.
The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, together with the Deputy Mayor, Inma Sanz, the Delegate for Works and Equipment, Paloma García Romero, and the councillors of Chamartín and Fuencarral-El Pardo, stressed that this action responds to the residents' demand for more infrastructure and better public space. ‘Madrid cannot stop its modernisation process if it wants to continue to compete with other large cities and consolidate itself as one of the main investment destinations’, he said.
Almeida stressed that this intervention is part of the investment effort of the City Council, which has already carried out the undergrounding of the M-30 and the A-5, and has recently presented Parque Ventas, a project that will provide 20,000 sqm of public space in an area with 16 lanes of traffic. Along these lines, he highlighted the positive impact of Parque Castellana on the districts of Chamartín, Fuencarral-El Pardo and Tetuán, which will have pergolas to provide shade, spaces for outdoor activities and the planting of 700 trees.
‘We want to ensure that there is not a single spot in the city where there has not been an impactful action to improve the lives of the residents,’ said the mayor.
A new green space with more than a thousand trees
A park will be created above the underground tunnel with recreational, walking and rest areas, all connected in an accessible manner. A total of 787 new trees will be planted in the area, which together with the existing trees will exceed 1,000, as well as 38,000 shrubs.
The design of the park includes a hill on the south side, with stone benches at the top and stepped steps on the north slope that will form a space similar to an amphitheatre. A monumental elliptical fountain surrounded by a stone bench will also be installed.
In the central area there will be a large square with two adjoining circles, one clear and the other with a pergola 25 metres in diameter made of steel and wood, with ground cover plants that will cast shadows in alternating strips. Next to the square there will be a pine grove with cypress, cedar and holm oak trees, with paths, a bio-health circuit, children's play areas and a kiosk-cafeteria.
The final section of the area will have a monumental pergola equipped with photovoltaic panels to generate energy. Under this structure will be the park's only transversal passage for public transport and local traffic, with a garden on the ramps of the tunnel for its landscape integration.
A three-lane tunnel in each direction
The tunnel will channel traffic below ground level, maintaining the connection between the Castellana and the Nudo Norte, linking with the M-30, M-607, A-1 and M-11. It will include accesses from Sinesio Delgado, Monforte de Lemos and Chamartín to guarantee local connectivity.
The design contemplates two levels to minimise the impact on the trees and preserve the larger specimens. In addition, the infrastructure will be prepared for a future connection with the Begoña neighbourhood and Madrid Nuevo Norte. The tunnel will have three lanes in each direction, while the future extension will have a single span with two lanes.
New cycle lane and mobility improvements
The project will also intervene on the sides of Paseo de la Castellana, including the creation of a bi-directional and segregated cycle lane. On the west side, the pavement next to the five towers will be renewed and the road will be rehabilitated, with two lanes of traffic and a parking area.
The east side will also be remodelled, with renewed pavements, two lanes of traffic, in-line parking and improvements to cross streets such as Daniel Vázquez Díaz, Manuel Caldeiro, Andrés Manjón and Viejas. New pedestrian crossings and bus shelters will be installed to facilitate mobility in the area.
With this intervention, the City Council seeks to transform mobility and the urban landscape of the north of the capital, enhancing the connection between new urban developments and the consolidated fabric of the city.
