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The M-40 resumes traffic after a cement mixer overturns
Traffic on the M-40 was severely affected on Tuesday afternoon after a cement mixer lorry overturned near Mercamadrid. The accident forced the closure of the section at kilometre 21, heading towards Torrejón de Ardoz, for nearly an hour and caused major tailbacks during rush hour.
The incident occurred at the junction between the A-4 and the M-40, one of the busiest traffic hubs in the south of the capital. Congestion quickly spread to nearby access roads, making journeys difficult for thousands of drivers returning home or crossing the city.
Bomberos del Ayuntamiento de Madrid worked to stabilise and move the heavy vehicle to the side of the road. Thanks to this manoeuvre, the left lane was able to reopen at around 6:30 pm, and shortly afterwards the central lane was also back in operation, although the tailbacks took much longer to clear.
The driver managed to get out of the lorry unaided and was treated by Samur-Protección Civil for minor injuries. Meanwhile, the Guardia Civil took charge of investigating the accident and managing traffic during the removal of the vehicle.
The Dirección General de Tráfico reported the incident through its channels and recommended taking extra care on the approaches to the junction with the A-4. Many drivers chose to look for alternative routes to avoid the jam, especially around Mercamadrid.
The final removal of the cement mixer required specialised machinery due to the weight of the vehicle and the load of concrete it was carrying. This process meant that part of the emergency response remained in place even after traffic had partially resumed.
Incidents like this show the vulnerability of Madrid's major transport hubs. A single accident at a strategic point is enough to cause kilometres of tailbacks and disrupt journeys between the south of the region and the rest of the capital for hours.
The afternoon ended with traffic gradually returning to normal, but left another familiar image of the city's ring roads: long lines of stationary vehicles, alternative routes congested, and thousands of drivers forced to change their plans because of an accident that paralysed one of Madrid's busiest access points.