Driving the Ghost Highway of Madrid: The MP-203

Have you ever heard of ghost infrastructure? These are large projects that were planned for a specific purpose, cost a lot of money, but for some reason never saw use. In Madrid, one of these abandoned works exists: the MP-203, a ghost highway where not a single car has ever driven.

What is the MP-203?

The MP-203, now renamed M-205, was designed as a new highway connecting Vallecas and Alcalá de Henares. Construction began in 2005 with the ambitious goal of easing congestion on the A-2, one of Madrid’s busiest access roads. The project stretched for 12.5 kilometers of perfectly paved asphalt, yet to this day it remains almost entirely unused. Only cyclists and locals jogging occasionally traverse its empty lanes.

Why is the MP-203 abandoned?

The highway cost 70 million euros but never fulfilled its intended function. Construction stopped abruptly in 2007, only two years after starting. According to the Ecologist Association of Jarama, the MP-203 is an example of “mismanagement of territory by the Community of Madrid,” and the road even lacked proper construction licenses.

What has the MP-203 been used for?

Despite being officially abandoned, the MP-203 has found other purposes. It has served as a movie set, hosted illegal races, and even been a route for walking and running. For the residents of Alcalá de Henares, the road became a symbol of waste and inefficiency, a highway that was fully built but never used by vehicles.

Is the MP-203 going to open?

The regional government is now considering resurrecting the highway, connecting the A-2 with the R-3 and the M-50 to improve traffic flow. After nearly 20 years of abandonment, the ghost highway may finally see official traffic. Until then, it remains a unique curiosity and a reminder of Madrid’s forgotten infrastructure projects.