The works on the Puerta del Sol are “practically complete” and only “a series of auctions” remain, such as putting the fountain into operation and other additional actions delayed by the appearance of archaeological remains.
This has been confirmed by the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, ignoring that this is the third announcement of this type made by the Consistory on an urban development that initially expected to be ready at the beginning of the year but which has been systematically delayed. for, among others, “a really high technical complexity”.
Setbacks that prevented cutting the ribbon before the municipal elections in May as planned by the councilor’s team when they started the excavators back in March 2022.
First, a partial opening for the 2022 chimes was announced, which resulted in a “hasty botch” as the visitors reported on social networks: Mortar in a good part of the square, various puddles given the non-existent uniformity of a pavement without slope, materials of work in each corner and risk of falling that forced to reduce and control the capacity.
“There was a commitment to have the square cleared by December 31 but mobility could not be guaranteed,” they recognized in Cibeles.
Overcome the downpour of criticism, the next proposed date turned out to be April 3. It was Almeida himself who announced it as one of the last announcements of the Consistory before the inaugural and balance acts of the Administrations were prohibited via BOE to avoid electoralism in the days prior to the vote.
But, when the date came, neither the benches were finished, nor the fountain was built, nor the Cercanías station had been modified and not even the statue of Carlos III had been able to be relocated. Of course, the workers tried it with the greatest of courage, maneuvering the tractors among the pedestrians, motivating various dangerous situations.
But the mayor hopes to leave everything behind in the coming weeks: “At the turn of the summer, now yes, the people of Madrid will be able to have these auctions finished, it is an emblematic work and it is in the very heart of the capital,” Almeida defended yesterday .
In the absence of the final report after the usual delays, the works have cost 10.7 million euros to the municipal coffers in a budget without a budget for planting trees, as the opposition leader, Rita Maestre, has been denouncing: “La Puerta del Sol adds absolutely nothing new to what came before and is simply the most expensive grill ever.”
Along with the new inauguration date of Sol, Almeida also announced in the press conference after the Governing Board that, after the August holidays, the municipal government will begin to prepare the municipal budgets for 2024. “Some accounts extraordinarily important given the uncertainties that Madrid has to face”, he commented.
