The escalators at Santa Cruz Interchange are more than 20 years old, so they’re due for an upgrade. Work starts on Monday, 26 October, with the Cabildo investing €1.82 million in replacing and expanding the equipment.
The project is expected to take seven months and will be carried out in stages. That means a few changes for anyone using the station, which handles around 60,000 people every day.
During the first phase, the two escalators connecting the interchange to Avenida Tres de Mayo will be closed. The escalators on the south side of the station, nearer the Auditorio Adán Martín, will remain open, along with the lifts serving the different floors.
The Cabildo has apologised in advance for the disruption and says signs and maps will direct passengers along alternative routes. If you’re heading through the station, it’s worth keeping an eye out for these, particularly if you’re changing between floors or catching the tram.
Passengers starting from the main hall on floor 0 will be directed along a temporary route to the other levels. Anyone on floor 2 who needs to reach the tram stop will have to follow the marked route outside the station.
The contract has been awarded to Schindler S.A. and includes eight new escalators. Four will replace the existing ones, with another four added to improve movement up and down between the different floors and areas.
The work also includes changes to the low-voltage electrical installation needed to power the new equipment.
It’s a substantial upgrade for one of Santa Cruz’s busiest transport hubs. In the meantime, allow a little extra time if you’re passing through. The usual route may not be the quickest one for a while.