Almeida Opens “Reborn” Plaza España
One of Madrid’s most emblematic plazas was reopened yesterday, Monday 21st November, by the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, after a 2 and half year remodelling project.
The remodelled Plaza España, which cost an estimated 75 million Euros, has been the biggest infastructure project of recent years and seen considerable delays due to the discovery of important archaeological sites during the work.
The plaza in its previous format was one of Madrid´s busiest areas with traffic on all sides taking vehicles from the M30 to Gran Via and Princessa.
It´s large green space which included the Cervantes Monument and fountain has always been popular with tourists with the imposing Torre Madrid and Edificio España buildings towering over the square.
During the ceremony, Almeida defined the new Plaza de España as a space that “belongs to all the people of Madrid” and that the transformation of the area shows that Madrid ” is the best city to live in and the best city to come”.
The new Plaza de España, is also a major victory for environmentalists with the planting of over 1,000 trees, allowing for a largely pedestrianised and” greener, more sustainable and accessible environment” that also incorporates a walking and cycling that connects the Bailén-Ferraz axis including the Plaza de Oriente, Temple of Debod, Sabatini gardens, Campo del Moro and down to Madrid Río.
The transformation of the area includes the channeling of road traffic through a remodelled and 1,150 metre tunnel under the Plaza Oriente that comes by Ventura Rodríguez.
