The A-6 and the decline of Spain's mid-sized plateau cities

The A-6 and the decline of Spain's mid-sized plateau cities

The Madrid–Galicia corridor, the A-6, is a radial motorway that systematically bypasses the provincial capitals of the Spanish plateau. Ávila, Salamanca, Zamora and León are not on its direct route; instead, the motorway passes through towns such as Medina del Campo, Tordesillas and Benavente. The debate over whether this configuration helps or hinders regional development has resurfaced with force, spurred by the decline of towns that were once thriving.

The route that left the capitals out

Contrary to a widespread criticism, these towns did not grow because of the motorway: they are historic landmarks on old royal roads and crossroads. The A-6 was laid over a pre-existing network, but its radial design – built to connect Madrid with the periphery – reinforced centralisation. Meanwhile, capitals such as Ávila or Salamanca are left off the main route; reaching them from the main corridor requires a detour. The result, according to analyses, is an asymmetry that penalises mid-sized cities: those on the A-6 capture some traffic, but without the administrative status or services of a capital, and those not on it lose connection opportunities.

The case of Béjar: industrial decline and depopulation

The Salamanca town of Béjar, once a textile hub, exemplifies the crisis. Located in the Sierra de Gredos, its historic centre shows palpable abandonment: streets with shuttered shops, deteriorating buildings. The closure of textile factories and the lack of generational renewal have left an economy without an engine. The A-6 does not pass through Béjar, but its decline cannot be explained by the route alone: factors such as deindustrialisation, ageing and the absence of rail investment all play a part.

Ironically, the two municipalities with the highest per capita income in Spain lie on the A-6: Pozuelo de Alarcón and Majadahonda, on the Madrid side. The metropolitan stretch concentrates wealth, but the rest of the corridor, especially beyond the mountains, shows a very different reality.

Forgotten transversal connections?

The debate points to a structural shortcoming: Spain needs better transversal axes to articulate its interior, not just radials converging on Madrid. The proposal for a hypothetical A-7 linking the north-western capitals is a theoretical exercise, but it reflects the demand for a more grid-like network. Meanwhile, mid-sized towns such as Benavente or Arévalo survive as passing points, without the economic muscle to retain population. The A-6 is not the cause of their situation, but neither is it the solution: it is the symptom of a territorial model that concentrates and forgets.