Madrid's A-5 Highway Restores Straight Route After Mario Kart Detour 2026

The A-5 highway in Madrid is set to restore its straight route this Thursday, September 3, as workers remove the second of three temporary detours built during the underground tunnel project. If you drive between Los Yébenes and San Manuel streets, you'll notice that the 400-meter stretch will once again be straight, eliminating the zigzag through the construction zone.

What's Happening with the A-5 Detour?

According to Madrid City Council, the temporary detour near Los Yébenes—one of three installed about a year ago—will be removed this week. To carry out the change, crews will close traffic at night from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM, between August 31 and September 2, affecting both directions of the highway.

Teams will close one lane at a time, ensuring at least one lane per direction remains open throughout the works. The new section will be operational from 6:00 AM on September 3.

Why the Detours Were Necessary

The city launched the detours a year ago at the Boadilla, Los Yébenes, and Batán interchanges to keep traffic flowing on the A-5 while workers demolished old underground passages and advanced the tunneling work. Those works in the area have now finished, according to the council.

This return to a straight layout marks a significant milestone in the project, which aims to bury a section of the A-5 to reduce surface traffic and create new public spaces.

Impact on Drivers and Commuters

Drivers who regularly use this stretch will experience a smoother, more direct route once the detour is gone. The zigzag pattern, which some compared to a "Mario Kart" track, will be replaced by the original straight alignment.

However, the overnight closures may cause delays for late-night travelers. Those commuting between August 31 and September 2 should plan extra time or consider alternative routes. The background to this story is set out in Madrid Faces Critical A-5 Tunnel Milestone With Full Traffic Closure. A related thread runs through M-501: Madrid's Longest Road and Its Eternal Gridlock Problem. Earlier coverage in UK Homelessness Crisis: Temporary Accommodation Costs Soar shows how the argument developed.

What to Watch Next

The removal of the Los Yébenes detour is the second of three to be eliminated. The first, at Boadilla, was already removed, and the third, at Batán, will be taken out in the coming weeks as the project progresses. A closer look at the same subject appears in DPD Temporary Workers Missed Sick Pay and Pensions. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Car: latest articles. The same theme surfaces in O2 Fiber Outage Returns as A-5 Tunnel Works Disrupt Internet, which takes a different angle.

Once all detours are removed, the A-5 will fully regain its original configuration, improving traffic flow and safety. The underground works are part of a larger effort to modernize Madrid's infrastructure and enhance urban mobility. Context on how this played out before sits in The Truth About Straight US Highways and Cold War Runway Myth. A companion piece, Spain's New Traffic Rules: Cars Must Always Yield to Pedestrians, approaches the same subject from another angle.

Key Takeaways

• The A-5 highway will restore its straight route on September 3 after the Los Yébenes detour is removed.
• Overnight closures from 11 PM to 6 AM will occur August 31–September 2, with one lane open per direction.
• The detours were installed a year ago to facilitate tunneling work and have now served their purpose.
• This is the second of three detours to be removed; the Batán detour will follow soon.
• Drivers can expect a smoother, more direct route once the work is complete.

Comparison of Before and After