M-50, Orbital motorway in Community of Madrid, Spain.
The M-50 is a ring motorway encircling Madrid with a total length of approximately 85 kilometers. It runs at an average distance of 13.5 kilometers from the city center and connects multiple major highways around the region.
Construction of this ring road started in 1990 with the first section linking the A-4 highway to Getafe. During building work, ancient flint extraction sites were discovered in Vicálvaro, leading to adjustments in the planned route.
The discovery of ancient flint mines in Vicálvaro during 2003 construction led to modifications in the road's planned route to preserve archaeological findings.
The road remains unfinished in the northwest section between the A-6 and A-1 highways. Drivers should plan alternative routes if they need to complete a full circuit around the region.
The M-50 functions through a shadow toll system where the central government manages operations while receiving fees from multiple connected motorways.
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