The Community of Madrid begins work to extend Metro Line 5 to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport

Councillor Rodrigo told the Nueva Economía Forum breakfast briefing that the work on the underground begins today. The future station will have a large space of almost 20,000 cubic metres, five access areas and a large glass roof of 1,630 m. This project, which will be completed in 2028, will especially benefit the 40,000 employees and more than 66 million users of the main Spanish aerodrome and the third largest in Europe.
Today, the Community of Madrid has begun work on the extension of Metro Line 5 from Alameda de Osuna to Adolfo Suárez Airport–Madrid Barajas. This was announced by the Regional Minister for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure, Jorge Rodrigo, during his speech at the Nueva Economía Fórum breakfast meeting in the Spanish capital.
Rodrigo detailed that the regional government will invest €181 million in this 1.7-kilometre extension to the L8 stop corresponding to terminals T1, 2 and 3. "Travelling from the centre of the capital to the main Spanish aerodrome and the third largest in Europe will be easier and much faster," said the minister, who estimates that 66 million users will benefit from this project, in addition to its 40,000 employees.
The new station will meet Metro de Madrid standards in terms of functionality, accessibility and safety. For this purpose, it will have a large central space of almost 20,000 cubic metres, five access areas, four fixed stairs and nine escalators. As Rodrigo has assured, one of the predominant elements will be its large 1,630 square metre glass roof, which will enable natural light to enter the interior and offer passengers views of the airport.
To ensure maximum efficiency, the excavation and construction works will combine different methods: part of the tunnel will be bored using the traditional pick and shovel method and another part using the cut and cove technique, i.e. diaphragm walls. The regional government is thus boosting one of the main axes of Madrid's underground network, bearing in mind that L5 serves an annual average of 77 million passengers. This line currently runs for a total of 25 kilometres, connects with 10 others, has 32 stations and includes the Ópera-Príncipe Pío branch. The works are 40% financed with European Union ERDF funds.