The mayor of Alcalá de Henares, Judith Piquet, has presented a review of completed works, ongoing projects, and pending initiatives, which will mobilize an investment of approximately 75 million euros during her term. This program, under the slogan ‘Alcalá improves its neighborhoods’, is defined as the most significant urban regeneration and transformation plan in recent decades.
The plan aims to renovate streets, squares, and avenues, improve public spaces, and modernize infrastructure. The goal is to create wide and accessible streets, avenues, and squares with green and recreational areas that facilitate walking, social gatherings, local commerce, and hospitality, while also organizing traffic and increasing parking spaces. According to Piquet, these improvements seek to “stitch together, connect, and foster coexistence between very heterogeneous neighborhoods and our World Heritage Historic Center”.
Projects such as the Avenida de Guadalajara, the new parking lot at Nuestra Señora de Belén, and the completed one in Luis Vives have already been realized. Public facilities have also been incorporated on Avenida de Pasionistas, improvements made on Camino de los Afligidos and Santander street, in Ronda Fiscal and Nueva Alcalá, and platform extensions in streets of the Historic Center.
Currently, over thirty actions are being executed or will soon begin in all neighborhoods. These include asphalt renewal, sidewalk expansion, repair of tree pits, improvements in sanitation and collectors, painting, signage, urban furniture, and LED lighting. Notable works are underway on Daoíz y Velarde street, Paseo del Val, Paseo de la Alameda, Aguadores, and Teniente Ruiz, which will more fluidly connect the El Val neighborhood and the Historic Center.
In the Center, sidewalks are being remodeled on Madre de Dios street, addressing neighborhood requests, particularly from the elderly. Piquet stated that “a large part of these actions are based on requests and demands from our residents, many of them neglected for years.” The street Núñez de Guzmán in District II will also be renovated, with planned improvements on Paseo de Pastrana, San Vidal street, and the area around the Santos Niños School, in addition to a new parking lot at Jiménez de Quesada.
In the northern part of the city, works will be undertaken in the Olivar Neighborhood, Chorrillo, and Campo del Ángel, with actions on Alcor, Ros y Medrano, and Pedro del Campo streets. In the Ensanche district, interventions are planned on Torrente Ballester, Onetti, Nicolás Guillén streets, and the area around the Ernest Hemingway School. In Ciudad 10, Josep Pla street will be addressed. Furthermore, streets in the neighborhoods of Juan de Austria, Lope de Figueroa, Pryconsa, and Ciudad del Aire will undergo reforms, including the remodeling of the Socio-Sports Center.
Highly anticipated and strategically important works will commence soon, such as reforms in sports facilities: the Val swimming pools, the Demetrio Lozano pavilion, and the terrace of the Espartales Sports Center. The Vía Complutense in its central sections and the avenue of Madrid will also be renovated.
Improvements to the urban environment in Reyes Católicos and Paseo de los Curas are planned, along with the construction of the Gal footbridge to connect La Garena neighborhood with the city Center. Piquet noted that these last two projects are drafted but awaiting funding due to the negative vote from PSOE, VOX, and Más Madrid in the last plenary session.
The mayor stated that efforts will continue to move these projects forward, along with other actions in various neighborhoods, representing an investment of over 50 million euros, partly from own funds. Piquet concluded that the city is on the right path towards becoming more interconnected, safe, accessible, and equipped with ample green, recreational, and pedestrian areas for walking, meeting, and coexistence, aiming to improve Alcalá de Henares.
