The situation of roads and highways on the island of Tenerife, with a high traffic density, comparable in some cases to that of the big cities of the country, and the road projects underway are “priority” for the government group of the Cabildo. This is stated in this interview with DIARIO DE AVISOS by the president of the institution, Pedro Martin (PSOE), which reviews the current state of the island network, the works currently being carried out and road planning for the future.
-You have recently met with the mayors of the North to convey solutions to the mobility problems that affect this part of the Island. How was this appointment?
“We wanted to ask them what we are working on, especially noting the delay we have on roads, of so many years, in which Tenerife is. We do not have an immediate solution to all these problems. The ideal would have been to find ready-made projects and then look for the money and commission the works. But the reality has been different. There were no prepared projects and they had to be commissioned or documents that were out of date had to be reviewed. The Government and the Cabildo work hand in hand and today we are promoting projects like never before ”.
-Among them, the closure of the Insular Ring …
“The first objective was to avoid that the environmental impact assessment could expire and thus ensure that the works to close the Insular Ring were not blocked again. To date, the works are progressing very well. There are already several kilometers of tunnel and the connection between the South and North of the Island will be completed within the term. It is a complex work. In fact, it is necessary to excavate more than five kilometers of tunnel, but the works are progressing very well and the Government of the Canary Islands is constantly monitoring the works ”.
– And the mayors have been receptive?
“Of course, they expressed their doubts and proposals at the meeting, agreeing that it is urgent to implement solutions to problems of years and years. In the case of La Laguna, it is imminent that the Canary Islands Government will release the variant from Guamasa to Lora and Tamayo to public information, that is, the road that goes behind Los Rodeos Airport, Tenerife North. This section is essential to solve a good part of the current problems of the TF-5.
That proposal, which was included in the Tenerife Island Plan, was forgotten and nobody had bothered to implement it, when it is one of the main solutions for traffic jams on the TF-5. It has been necessary to agree with AENA, with the army, which has a helicopter base there. Most of the route will be in tunnel to preserve the value of the natural soil of that area and the agricultural value, and at the same time avoid greater environmental impacts ”.
-It seems that it has been a complicated project, but that it has a certain urgency.
“Yes, work has been done on the construction project, on budgets, on solutions that allow hooking into the Lora and Tamayo connection, guaranteeing the different entrances and exits, which are many in that area. Now that the project has been released to public information, the objective is to put the works out to tender in 2022 ”.
-At what point is the famous work of the roundabout of Padre Anchieta and the one linked to it, that of the TF-24?
“On the La Esperanza highway, the TF-24, the machines are already working. The idea is to remove the load from vehicles that join the Padre Anchieta roundabout. But, in addition, the work of the roundabout has already been awarded. This is a critical point where many vehicles pile up. There are queues, sometimes endless, we have to facilitate traffic, diverting some of the connections from that roundabout, burying part of the access from the TF-24 to prevent so many vehicles from concentrating at that point. And, on the other hand, moving pedestrian traffic through an elevated walkway. It is a work that will begin before the end of this year ”.
-That in terms of La Laguna, but what are the main axes of these priority works on the northern island highways?
“The San Juan de la Rambla-Icod section has been released to public information this Friday. This is great news for us. Now they must spend 30 days to wait for allegations. It is a complicated work, which already had a rejection in 2001, and which has been resumed, leaving out the part that affected the protected natural areas of Tigaiga, Campeche and Barranco de Ruiz. This work will take underground burials and alleviate an important section, especially for the affected municipalities before reaching the Los Realejos unfolding “.
-In the end it seems that everything comes down to the TF5, that all roads lead to the same place.
“The Cabildo is trying to find alternatives to alleviate the permanent problems that occur on the TF-5. We are evaluating several formulas, such as putting some type of traffic light that regulates access from the population centers to the highway. We have even considered the possibility of temporarily painting three lanes on the road until the works are completed, but, unfortunately, the widths that we have of the track are not enough to do it, even if it was provisionally. We have also valued the possibility of closing some access to the highway to give it more fluidity. In any case, the real solutions will come from these projects that we are processing ”.
-In the South there are also projects of interest, right?
“Yes, with the Government of the Canary Islands, we have got down to work in Chafiras-Oroteanda. Anyone who passes through that area of the South of Tenerife will be able to see how advanced the works are going to unblock one of the traffic black spots in the South of the Island. And, furthermore, at this moment work is being done by the Government of the Canary Islands, in a new project of Roads between Las Américas and Guaza ”.
-However, with everything, there are currents of opinion that point to ineffectiveness, what do you think about this?
“I’m sorry that it gives the impression that nothing is being done and that it is all promises. However, to counteract this opinion, what we can put on the table are work awards, on the one hand, which is the best proof that we are working, and the publication in the Official Gazette, -as we are seeing-, of projects to be able to take them out to contest. I would like to thank the Government of the Canary Islands, the counselor Sebastián Franquis, and the general director of Roads, José Luis Delgado, for the involvement they have had in this matter on which we are focused, which is none other than to seek solutions for the Tenerife roads and trying to make up for so many years of lost time ”.
