The closure of access from Guamasa to the TF-5, the Northern Highway, a measure that was tested for ten days at the beginning of this month, yields positive results. The first data, the result of the analysis of Highways technicians Tenerife Council, show a reduction in vehicle queue time of up to 50 minutes. Specifically, those who leave from Icod de los Vinos would reach that frequency while from La Orotava the relief would last half an hour. These are the figures collected after the pilot test of cutting link number 14 between six in the morning and 9:30 a.m.
The fluidity of traffic on the TF-5 has been notable during rush hours, according to this field work. A fluidity that translates into significant decreases in the time spent in traffic jams and collapses by drivers who travel to the Metropolitan Area from the North of the Island every day. After the reopening of the link, once the test was finished, the cars have accumulated again in that time slot.
It should be noted that in the ten days of testing the accident rate in the area has been reduced to zero. There has not been traffic accidents. In addition to improving mobility in the area, the measure sought to guarantee road safety.
Focus issue
The president of the Cabildo of TenerifeRosa Dávila, was questioned yesterday about whether she will receive the residents of Guamasa who reject the measure and plan to gather tomorrow in front of the Insular Palace. The first thing she said was that “everyone has the right to demonstrate and express themselves, nothing more.” She then pointed out that “the agenda will surely prevent me from receiving them but I have already done so on two occasions, just as we have met with the La Laguna City Council to discuss this. If there has to be a third date, there will be one. He wanted to make it clear that “a lot of focus is placed on the impact on 600 vehicles at rush hour and on alternative roads (TF-235 and TF-152), those coming from Guamasa and other areas of La Laguna or Tegueste, but nothing is said about the almost 15,000 sufferers in the north of the Island who have seen their daily queues alleviated, at least in part.
Study
A study by the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Government of the Canary Islands for the implementation of the bus-HOV lane on the Northern Highway includes the Guamasa interchange and the Padre Anchieta roundabout as the main black spots. In the first case “there is a significant incorporation of traffic that joins that already coming from the North.” And he adds about this critical enclave: “Other negative factors are the narrowing of the road in some points, the high density of the link in the Tacoronte-La Laguna section and the high slope in the El Sauzal curve.”
Tram to Los Rodeos
Questioned yesterday about the expansion of the tram to Los Rodeos Airport, the president of the Cabildo assessed: «We have repeated that the most advanced project is the one that goes from Tíncer to Muñeco de Nieve, in the Southwest of Santa Cruz, which we will develop in 2024. We do not give up on taking the light rail to Tacoronte, after passing through Los Rodeos, but that will be officially announced when it is something tangible and therefore announceable.
Big works
He Parliament of the Canary Islands yesterday rejected a Non-Law Proposition (PNL) from the PSOE to urge the Government of the Canary Islands to “promote road infrastructure in Tenerife included in the Highway Agreement Canary Islands-Status 2018-2027». The PNL is similar to the motion that the Socialist Group already presented in the Tenerife Cabildo. She was defended by Nira Fierro, spokesperson for Public Works, who asked the Canarian Government to “clarify its commitment to improve the mobility of the Island” and “explain its plans regarding the projects planned and approved in the previous legislature.” She insisted on the need for “a political agreement that promotes and puts under scrutiny the roads and works so necessary for Tenerife.”
Fierro recalled that the previous Government left the advanced projects in order to complete the Erjos tunnel, the San Juan de la Rambla-Icod de los Vinos section, the La Laguna ring road, the third lane of San Isidro-Playa de the Americas or the burial of Fañabé in Adeje. He listed up to twelve great works.
“stuck” island
The nationalist deputy Jonathan Martín Fumero gave the reply in a PNL that, he assessed, “implies, de facto, the recognition of the failure of the previous Government in policy of roads and mobility in Tenerife. He added that “when talking about promoting, the PSOE implicitly recognizes that it left the Island standing still.” According to Martín Fumero, beyond announcements and headlines, “the Government of Angel Victor Torreslimited itself to continuing the works that were already awarded or in the process of being awarded, such as the Chafiras-Oroteanda link or the section of the Insular Ring between Santiago del Teide and The Tank. According to the CC deputy, “it is about offering a master class on the processing of projects” which justifies the delay in all the works that they are now requesting to promote. Martín stated that the situation experienced daily in TF-5 and TF-1 requires “diligence in the management of strategic projects for the mobility of Tenerife.” The deputy concluded: “In the Department of Public Works, up to 18 actions are planned in Tenerife and not all of them are at the same level of processing.”
1.8 million for the modules of the Padre Anchieta walkway
The Governing Council of the Cabildo of Tenerife, at the request of the Highways area, yesterday approved a sum of 1,884,540 euros for the acquisition of 11 modules for the Padre Anchieta pedestrian walkway, located on the TF-5. The infrastructure is scheduled to come into operation in September of next year, as confirmed by the island president, Rosa Dávila, who assessed that it will mean “an improvement in mobility for both drivers and pedestrians” in an area that has been converted into a fonil for vehicles arriving from the north of the Island on the way to La Laguna and Santa Cruz. The assembly of the footbridge piers in three of the four entrances has been carried out until the beginning of this month during daylight hours. A crane truck carried out the work to place the supports for these modules practically without affecting pedestrians and vehicles. The assembly of the southern area remains pending, but the batteries have not yet been manufactured. affected by a modification of the project, manufactured in Seville. After the batteries, would come the assembly of the 11 modules that require special transportation and night work. | JDM
