Túneles M30

With 48 kilometres of tunnels – the equivalent of 118 kilometres of underground motorway – Madrid Calle 30 is the largest urban tunnel network in Europe and the second largest in the world, after the Yamate Tunnel in Japan. In total, the network of tunnels and open roads that make up Madrid Calle 30 extends for more than 200 kilometres.

Madrid Calle 30, S.A. is a mixed economy company, 80% owned by Madrid City Council and 20% by EMESA (Ferrovial, Iridium and ImesApi), which is responsible for the management and maintenance of the M-30 (Calle 30), the motorway ring road around the centre of Madrid. The company is attached to Madrid City Council’s Public Works and Equipment Department.

The bypass tunnels have been used as filming locations for numerous productions (including the series Heartless (Perverso), 30 Coins (30 Monedas), García!, Intergalactic and films such as Unknown Origins (Orígenes secretos)). These bypass tunnels are two parallel tubes with a circular cross section, which run at a maximum depth of 60 metres. The middle section contains the driving level, i.e., the road on which the vehicles circulate (XC and NC), while the lower section is the so-called service gallery (XG and NG).

Possible locations are:

– The service gallery

The bypass gallery is a service tunnel used by the emergency services in the event of a major incident. It is also the evacuation route in this section. It also provides easy access to the technical installations. Like the road level, it consists of two parallel tubes: XG and NG.

– Cul-de-sacs

These are empty spaces located at either end of the bypass service gallery. They provide an ideal location for parking, material storage, chemical toilets, catering, changing rooms and other facilities. They can be accessed from Paseo de la Chopera.

– Technical Rooms

Access to the cul-de-sac at the end of Technical Room 4 is via Calle Arregui y Arruej, through Las Adelfas Park. There are stairs to climb, which makes access with technical equipment difficult.

– Control Centre Service Tunnel

This is an underground service corridor that connects the Control Centre, located at 95 Calle Méndez Álvaro, with the Intervention Agents Base opposite. It also provides access to the ventilation shaft of Technical Room 3 and to a staircase leading down to the bypass service gallery.

– Stairwell of Technical Room 2

At almost 60 metres below ground level, this very special area is one of the deepest points of the bypass.

– Access to Technical Room 22

Access is via Paseo de La Chopera, located at kilometre 12XG27/12NG27, or via a dirt track from Avenida de Planetaria.

– Technical Room 4 of the Bypass

This is perhaps one of the most unusual areas because of the way it has been built. It has an area connected to the outside park by a ventilation grille and you can also see the piles used in the civil works.

– Technical Room 4 of the Bypass

The “arch” formed by these piles gives access to an open space where the silencers of the ventilation system are located.

For more detailed information and images, please click on the link below to the ‘M30 Tunnels Shooting Spaces’ dossier.

Updated: 20/10/2025