The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, has shown this Wednesday her respect for the demonstration that the residents of the Guamasa lagoon neighborhood are going to carry out. this Friday before the doors of the Insular Palace against the closure of the TF-5, although he has insisted that the pilot project was a “relief” for the 15,000 northern residents who use the highway.
In a press conference to report on the agreements of the Government Council, he commented that in Spain there is “freedom of expression” and there is “no problem” for them to express themselves, although he makes it clear that they are still “analyzing the data” and No final decision has been made on closing the link early in the morning to facilitate traffic flow.
He has also pointed out that they have already met twice with the representatives of the neighborhood association and does not rule out that there could be a third on Friday with the Minister of Highways, Dámaso Arteaga, if necessary (the president does not have the agenda available that day).
The president has pointed out that each person “is free to express agreement or disagreement” and in that sense, she has regretted that “no one puts a microphone” to the 15,000 affected northern residents so that they can give their opinion on the queues after the pilot test. given that “they have clearly improved,” in his opinion.
However, he has insisted that the result has not yet been analyzed and he understands that “the best thing to do” is to finish doing the study and see “what improvements” can be applied if the cut becomes permanent. “We are available to the neighbors and the mayor to explain the actions,” she added.
Dávila has commented that the residents of Guamasa “are very important” but also those of the rest of the northern municipalities “and they do not come to demonstrate at the door of the Cabildo.”
The measure not only collapsed traffic in Guamasa, but also on secondary roads that connect with the highway and that serve as a link for residents on the outskirts of La Laguna to travel to the city, Santa Cruz or the south of the island. Both roads TF-152 and TF-235, where traffic was diverted during the test, suffered serious traffic jams while the measure lasted. In fact, the Guamasa Neighborhood Association, when calling the protest this Friday, assured that what the Cabildo’s measure did was move the collapse of traffic from the TF-5 to the rest of the road and areas such as Los Rodeos, La Esperanza or Las Canteras. In addition, they explained that according to the director of the CEIP Santa Rosa de Lima, located in Guamasa, 40% of the students arrived late to classes while the Cabildo test lasted.
The Cabildo already announced that, if the test was positive (as it has assessed), it would adopt measures on secondary roads to adapt them to the new traffic. One of them, TF-235 (the so-called Golf Course road), has numerous homes on both sides, little shoulder and abundant vegetation, such as large trees and palm trees, on both sides.
