On the occasion of the arrival of Pope Leo XIV to Madrid, The capital will suffer different traffic cuts and effects on public transportation. The pontiff’s visit will take place between June 6 and 9. However, its consequences for circulation began to be noticed. starting last March 21 in some areas of the center, but they will be reinforced starting May 26 at 00:00 a.m.
The Pope of the Catholic Church, Leo XIV, will carry out two events in the center of the capital. The first, on June 6 in the Plaza de Lima, carrying out a prayer vigil with young people; and the second, on June 7 in Plaza Cibeles, where he will officiate the first of the large masses scheduled during his trip. For both events, the Madrid City Council hopes congregations close to 1,800,000 peoplewhich will significantly affect traffic and circulation in the area.
For this reason, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, asked companies to operate in the area that facilitate work among your employees between June 3 and 9. However, the effects of the arrival of the Holy Father will not only be felt in the center, but also in the surrounding area, carrying out a deployment of a special device. All this with the aim of speeding up movement despite the event.
These are all the traffic cuts due to the arrival of Pope Leo XIV to Madrid
The effects on circulation They started last May 21 at nightwhen they began to occasionally occupy some of the traffic lanes of the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, Plaza de Cibeles, Plaza de la Independencia, Calle Alcalá (next to Gran Vía), Paseo de Recoletos, Paseo del Prado, Paseo de la Castellana and Plaza de Lima. Likewise, also night work began between Paseo de la Castellana and Raimundo Fernández Villaverde.
Starting May 25 at midnightnighttime restrictions will be extended to the roads that surround Plaza de Lima and Plaza de Cibeleswith the aim of setting up the preparations and audiovisual systems required for the events. Specifically, circulation will only be allowed in the vicinity of Plaza de Lima, since both the entrance and exit will remain closed.
Due to this, North-South, South-North circulation and turns will be allowed from General Perón and Concha Espina streets, although It will not be allowed to head towards Paseo de la Castellana in the north direction nor from Concha Espina in the south direction. The Total traffic cuts in the three central lanes of Paseo de la Castellana They will be held starting June 3, just like in the Plaza de Lima. For Cibeles these restrictions will not arrive until June 4.
This is how the pontiff’s visit to the capital will affect public transportation
As for the Plaza de Cibeles, the bus lane is closed which is located at the height of the Paseo del Prado and those intended for the circulation of night buses. Although these are not the only cuts that users of the buses of the Municipal Transport Company (EMT)since lines 1, 2, 9, 14, 15, 20, 34, 43, 51, 52, 74, 120, 146, 150, N5, N6, N7, N12, N20 and N21 will see their routes modified and may suffer delays.
Beyond the restrictions, also different stops will be eliminatedbecause the buses will not stop at number 70located near the Plaza de Cibeles. To these measures, as of May 27, lines 14, 27, 40, 126, 147, 150, N22, N24 and SE10 will be added. In addition, bus 41 will not stop at its usual stop located on Paseo de la Castellana and number 93. It will not circulate in the vicinity of Plaza de Lima.
To face these measures, and as an alternative for citizens, The city council will allow the circulation of all taxi licenses during June 6 and 7regardless of whether they should release or not, and are considering the possibility of extending this decision to June 5. Likewise, they recommend that those people who want to access the center with their private transportation do so. through the M-30.