Preparations in Madrid for the papal visit
The city of Madrid is in full preparation phase to welcome Pope Leo XIV, who will be present from June 6 to 9. This visit, which promises to be a significant event, has led local authorities to implement a series of traffic cuts that will affect various key areas of the capital.
Since May 23, Madrid residents have begun to experience the first road restrictions. In particular, Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de Lima will be the epicentres where the main activities related to the Pope's visit will be concentrated. The City Council has warned that these cuts will intensify from Monday, the 25th, when the assembly of the altar and other necessary structures for the religious events will begin.
From June 3, a near-total closure is expected in the central lanes of Plaza de Lima, while the complete blockade in Cibeles will begin the following day. These changes will create significant complications for those needing to travel through these areas.
To mitigate the impact of traffic, the City Council has suggested using the M-30 as the main route. Additionally, they have identified several alternative streets within the central area that can help redistribute vehicular flow. Among them are Bravo Murillo and Santa Engracia to the west; Serrano and Velázquez to the east; as well as Costa Rica and Doctor Esquerdo for north-south journeys.
In an effort to facilitate mobility during these critical days, EMT buses and Bicimad will offer free service from June 3 to 9. Furthermore, taxi services will be reinforced to meet the increasing demand during this period. Authorities have also arranged peripheral parking in strategic locations such as Ifema and Ciudad Universitaria to avoid excessive congestion in the city centre.
Measures are not only being taken for traffic; there are also plans for the mass installation of portable toilets around the affected squares. It is estimated that there will be approximately 2,000 units near Cibeles and about 800 in Lima, ensuring that both attendees and passersby have basic services during this important occasion.
You may also like
