Plaza de Oporto will gain trees, wider pavements and a new fountain, with works lasting until 2027

Plaza de Oporto will change its rhythm in the coming years. More trees, broad pavements and a fountain will renew this key Carabanchel junction. The project begins in spring and will last until 2027.

Plaza de Oporto, one of the main hubs in southern Madrid, is preparing for a transformation that will change how the neighbourhood is navigated and experienced. The City Council has approved a comprehensive refurbishment that will expand pedestrian space, add more than a hundred trees and renew the appearance of this location, traditionally dominated by traffic.

The project, with a budget of €5.3 million financed by Plan Sures, responds to a historic demand from Carabanchel: to gain space for pedestrians and turn the square into a place for meeting and cultural activity. Works will begin this spring and run until the second half of 2027, with the intention that the square should cease to be only a crossroads and become an epicentre for events and neighbourhood life.

Among the main new features, the plan calls for increasing pedestrian surface area by 1,443 square metres, planting 110 trees and more than 3,200 shrubs, and building an ornamental fountain in the centre. The paving will combine grey and ochre shades, and both the retaining wall and the landscaped areas surrounding the square will be renewed. The objective is to create a friendlier space, with shade and rest areas, where walking and cycling take on greater prominence.

The refurbishment is not limited to Plaza de Oporto alone. Work will also be carried out at Valle de Oro roundabout, on Valle de Oro and Juan Francisco streets, on a stretch of Río de Oro and General Ricardos, and on part of Oca Street, which will connect with the future remodelling of Plaza de Almodóvar. On Oca Street, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction and parking will become parallel, making it possible to widen pavements, create planted beds and add a two-way cycle lane. On General Ricardos, pavements will be widened and new areas for stopping and staying will be added.

The municipal opposition has welcomed the news, although it warns that investment remains low compared with other districts. Más Madrid and the PSOE insist that territorial rebalancing is still far from real and criticise the fact that the refurbishment does not fundamentally address problems of coexistence and public amenities in the area. Even so, the change will be felt above all in the daily lives of people who cross and live around this junction every day.

Plaza de Oporto is much more than a simple passing point: it connects the historic axis of General Ricardos with Avenida de Oporto and links neighbourhoods with different rhythms and needs. Its transformation seeks not only to improve mobility, but also to reinforce Carabanchel’s identity as a living district in constant evolution.