Independientes por Madrid has filed a complaint with the Defensor del Pueblo to demand the reports justifying the retention of the M-30 viaduct, which has separated Puente de Vallecas and Retiro since 1976. The City Council will reform the area with 11.5 million euros without demolishing the structure.
The municipal group Independientes por Madrid, led by Marta Higueras, has registered a complaint with the Defensor del Pueblo to request the technical studies that justify keeping the M-30 viaduct known as the 'scalextric' of Vallecas. The party is also asking for acoustic measurements inside the homes closest to the bridge, which has separated the districts of Puente de Vallecas and Retiro since 1976. The information, reported by madridinforma.es, details that the complaint questions the lack of transparency regarding the evaluations supporting the continuity of the infrastructure.
According to the party, the necessary technical reports have not been published to understand the real impact of traffic on the homes near the M-30. The complaint requests the Defensor del Pueblo to investigate the noise pollution endured by residents in areas such as Numancia, San Diego, Adelfas, and Pacífico. The City Council estimates that around 300,000 vehicles pass through this point in the capital every day.
The complaint does not imply that the Defensor del Pueblo has accepted the matter for processing. If it decides to investigate, it can request information from the City Council and make recommendations, although it does not have the authority to order the demolition of the bridge or to halt already approved works. Affected residents can also submit their own complaints to this institution, free of charge and without the need for a lawyer.
The necessary technical evaluations to understand the impact of traffic on the nearest homes have not been published
The conflict has accumulated years of community demands. In March 2021, the municipal plenary unanimously approved the initiation of studies to eliminate the elevated passage. A year later, the City Council ruled out its underground construction due to the high cost, estimated at nearly 100 million euros, and the difficulties it would create for traffic.
The government of José Luis Martínez-Almeida maintains the Vallecas Abierto project, presented in May 2026 with a total investment exceeding 11.5 million euros. On 17 September, the renovation of the lower area and its surroundings was approved, valued at 5.2 million, with a timeline expected between October 2026 and spring 2028.
The intervention includes five new pedestrian crossings, the pedestrianisation of Monte Oliveti, and an additional 3,770 square meters for pedestrians. It also includes the planting of 48 trees, more than 10,000 shrubs, and the reorganisation of bus stops. The bridge will remain in operation, with acoustic improvements such as noise barriers and sound-absorbing pavement. Independientes por Madrid doubts that these measures will be sufficient to reduce noise exposure and compares the situation in Vallecas with other municipal investments, such as the park over the M-30 in Ventas or the underground construction of the A-5.
The complaint does not halt the approved works: the renovation of the area begins this October and will last until spring 2028, with the viaduct still in operation.
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