- The modernization works of the two tunnels have a budget of more than 6 million euros from the European funds Next Generation of the Recovery Plan.
- During the first eight months of construction, the right lane of the two tunnels will be closed in both directions, keeping two lanes per direction in the left lane.
- The works have an estimated duration of 13 months.
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, through the State Society of Land Transport Infrastructures (SEITT), began yesterday the works of improvement in the tunnels of Valdepastores and Boadilla, between the 72,700 and 74,060 kilometers of the M-50, in Boadilla del Monte. These works have a total budget of 6,095 million euros, and are financed with the European funds Next Generation EU of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).
The project has an estimated execution time of thirteen months, and its main objective is the adaptation of both tunnels to the safety requirements established in Royal Decree 635/2006, of May 26, which regulates the minimum safety requirements in the tunnels of the State road network. This regulation sets the essential technical standards to reduce the risk of accidents, minimize their consequences and facilitate an effective response to emergencies.
The actions contemplated to modernize the tunnels and adapt them to the regulations are the following:
- Renovation of the drainage and waterproofing system to avoid leaks that compromise the structure.
- Replacing existing lighting with high-efficiency LED systems, improving visibility and reducing energy consumption.
- Modernization of signalling, fire protection systems (PCI), radio and megaphony installations.
- Temporary reordering of traffic during construction to ensure the safety of workers and users.
Thus, since last night, the right lane in direction A-6 was diverted from both tunnels. The estimated duration of this diversion is between 6 and 8 months, since it requires the execution of a separative drainage, treatment of filtrations, facilities, among other works.
Within approximately 2-3 weeks, the same type of detour will be executed (detour of traffic from the right to the left lane and double direction of circulation in this one), but in direction A-5. This affectation will also have an estimated duration of 6 to 8 months.
Once the works in the right hastial have been completed, the interventions in the left hastial of both tubes and tunnels will be carried out. By involving a lower workload, a duration of between 3 and 4 months is estimated.
Strategic infrastructure
nforecast in 2004, the tunnels of Valdepastores (800 m) and Boadilla (500 m) are part of the M-50 bypass, a high-capacity strategic infrastructure that records high and continuous traffic. The planned interventions respond to the need to update security conditions after more than two decades of uninterrupted service.
This action is integrated into the investment plan of SEITT, which allocates more than 470 million euros to the recovery of motorways reverted to the State. Among its priorities are the rehabilitation of firmes, tunnels, structures, signage, toll and ITS systems, noise control, lighting improvements and capacity expansions.