Autopista de Circunvalación M-40
Encyclopedia
The M-40, in Spanish transport
, is a Madrid
orbital motorway, similar to the M25 motorway
in London, or the Boulevard Périphérique in Paris. It is the second-outermost of the Madrid orbital highways, the M-30
being the closest to the centre of Madrid. It has a total length of 63.3 km (39.3 mi), looping around Madrid and its suburb Pozuelo de Alarcón
at a mean distance of 10.1 km (6.3 mi) to the Puerta del Sol
. The actual distance is much closer in the southern and eastern spans, which have been engulfed by the city in some points; than in the west, where the Casa de Campo
and the projection towards Pozuelo brings it further from Madrid itself.
Furthermore, it is the only one of the several ring roads serving Madrid that runs as a full-fledged motorway for all its length: a span about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long at the northern arc of the inner M-30 are not freeway-grade, having level crossings and traffic lights; while the outermost M-50 is not a full ring road due to the interruption caused by the Mount of El Pardo
protected natural zone. With the "normal" M-40 traffic already being one of the heaviest in Spain, this provides for mighty jams in its northern span during peak hours. The Madrid regional government, which built the M-45
motorway external to the M-40 specifically to decongest the southern and estern spans of the older beltway, has recently aired plans to address the northern jams by effectively "closing" the M-50 ring with a tunnel under the protected area.
Somewhat counterintuitively to foreigners and natives alike, the M in the road name does not indicate a hypothetical ownership of the road by the autonomous regional
government of Madrid. Instead, both the M-40 and the M-50 are state-owned freeways, as shown by the white text on blue background of their signals, whereas Madrid regional motorways like the M-45 use black text on an orange background that identify them as pertaining to the "regional first order roads" category of the Spanish Traffic Code. The M-30, on the other hand, is managed by the Madrid City Council as an urban freeway.
Transport in Spain
Transportation in Spain is characterized by an extensive network of roads, railways, rapid transit, air routes, and ports. Its geographic location makes it an important link between Europe, Africa, and the New World...
, is a Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
orbital motorway, similar to the M25 motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
in London, or the Boulevard Périphérique in Paris. It is the second-outermost of the Madrid orbital highways, the M-30
Autopista de Circunvalación M-30
The M-30 orbital motorway circles the central districts of Madrid, the capital city of Spain. It is the innermost ring road of the Spanish city. Outer rings are named M-40, M-45 and M-50....
being the closest to the centre of Madrid. It has a total length of 63.3 km (39.3 mi), looping around Madrid and its suburb Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcón is a suburb of over 85,000 inhabitants near the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. It is surrounded by large Mediterranean pine-tree forests: la Casa de Campo, el Monte del Pardo and el Monte del Pilar...
at a mean distance of 10.1 km (6.3 mi) to the Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol is one of the best known and busiest places in Madrid. This is the centre of the radial network of Spanish roads. The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year...
. The actual distance is much closer in the southern and eastern spans, which have been engulfed by the city in some points; than in the west, where the Casa de Campo
Casa de Campo
The Casa de Campo is the largest urban park situated west of central Madrid, . It was formerly a royal hunting estate. Its area is more than ....
and the projection towards Pozuelo brings it further from Madrid itself.
Furthermore, it is the only one of the several ring roads serving Madrid that runs as a full-fledged motorway for all its length: a span about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long at the northern arc of the inner M-30 are not freeway-grade, having level crossings and traffic lights; while the outermost M-50 is not a full ring road due to the interruption caused by the Mount of El Pardo
Fuencarral-El Pardo (Madrid)
Fuencarral-El Pardo is one of the 21 districts that form the city of Madrid, Spain.-Overview:Fuencarral-El Pardo is the district number 8 and consists of the following neighborhoods: El Pardo , Fuentelarreina , Peñagrande , Pilar , La Paz , Valverde , Mirasierra and El Goloso .Despite its being a...
protected natural zone. With the "normal" M-40 traffic already being one of the heaviest in Spain, this provides for mighty jams in its northern span during peak hours. The Madrid regional government, which built the M-45
M-45 (Spain)
The M-45 motorway, in the Spanish region of Madrid, is one of the several high-capacity roads serving the metropolitan area of Madrid, the capital of Spain. A partial ring around the city, it was built in the early 2000s by the Madrid regional government to help alleviate the congestion of the...
motorway external to the M-40 specifically to decongest the southern and estern spans of the older beltway, has recently aired plans to address the northern jams by effectively "closing" the M-50 ring with a tunnel under the protected area.
Somewhat counterintuitively to foreigners and natives alike, the M in the road name does not indicate a hypothetical ownership of the road by the autonomous regional
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
government of Madrid. Instead, both the M-40 and the M-50 are state-owned freeways, as shown by the white text on blue background of their signals, whereas Madrid regional motorways like the M-45 use black text on an orange background that identify them as pertaining to the "regional first order roads" category of the Spanish Traffic Code. The M-30, on the other hand, is managed by the Madrid City Council as an urban freeway.