The infrastructure, 135 metres long and nearly 5 metres wide, will connect Ventura Rodríguez and Manuel de Falla streets and will house a 1.6-metre diameter pipe from the second ring of potable water distribution.
The construction of the new footbridge over the M-50 at the height of Boadilla del Monte is progressing well. The structure, promoted by Canal de Isabel II, will not only improve the water supply network of the Community of Madrid but will also provide a new crossing for pedestrians and cyclists between both sides of the road.
The footbridge is being built between Ventura Rodríguez and Manuel de Falla streets, two key routes in the urban layout of the locality. Its main function is to provide continuity to branch 3 of the second ring of potable water distribution, a strategic infrastructure that transports water from the treatment plants in Colmenar Viejo and Valmayor, the largest in the region.
A Pipe Beneath Your Feet
Below the surface of the footbridge, a 1.6-metre diameter pipe will run for transporting pressurised water. Above, residents will be able to walk or cycle on a platform nearly five metres wide and 135 metres long. The structure spans the M-50 and connects two residential areas separated by the motorway.
This project is part of the development of the second distribution ring, a major pipeline that Canal de Isabel II is executing at various points in the region. This infrastructure, nicknamed the “M-50 of water”, is set to ensure supply in the areas of highest demographic and urban growth in the Community of Madrid.
The aim is to strengthen the supply network in the metropolitan crown and in the new expansion areas, according to sources from Canal de Isabel II.
More Than Water: Sustainable Mobility
Beyond its hydraulic function, the footbridge will enhance pedestrian and cyclist connectivity between both sides of the M-50 in Boadilla. Residents of the nearby developments will be able to cross the motorway without needing to use a car, promoting sustainable mobility and reducing dependence on private vehicles.
Canal de Isabel II has already carried out similar projects in other parts of the region, always following the same pattern: a footbridge that integrates a large diameter pipe underground and a pathway for people and bicycles on the surface. The one in Boadilla is one of the longest, at 135 metres, and is expected to be operational in the coming months.
For local residents, the project offers a double advantage: on one hand, a guarantee of a more robust water supply; on the other, a new safe route for walking or cycling without having to detour for miles. And all this without affecting the traffic on the M-50, as the footbridge is being built cantilevered over the roadway.
The investment in this infrastructure has not been made public, but it is part of the overall budget for the second distribution ring, valued at over 200 million euros. Canal de Isabel II is funding the project through its tariffs, at no direct cost to the Boadilla City Council.
Execution timelines suggest that the footbridge could be completed by the end of this year, although Canal prefers not to speculate on specific dates. What is clear is that, when it becomes operational, residents of Boadilla will be able to cross the M-50 with a glass of water in hand — literally — while the pipe running beneath their feet continues to deliver the vital liquid to the entire region.
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