The capital of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is currently immersed in the lively Carnival atmosphere, and as expected, vital alterations have been made to the city’s traffic flow. These changes include street closures and parking restrictions. Among the new features this year, anti-intrusion barriers will be utilized to seal off the Parade route, which is set to commence at 7:30 p.m. today on Belgium Avenue, as well as the closure of the Carnival Quadrilateral. These barriers will be strategically positioned at the junctions of Santa Rosalía and Méndez Núñez streets, Galcerán and San Sebastián, and Comodoro Rolín and Belgium Avenue.
Presenting a premier implementation at the chicharrera festival, this security measure involves the installation of specific barriers at key points within the capital to prevent vehicles from breaching the designated perimeter. Sources from the Local Police have disclosed that a total of four anti-intrusion barriers, each equipped with six posts, have been procured for approximately €9,000. These barriers will be deployed across different streets of the Quadrilateral, aiming to restrict the access of unauthorized vehicles and fortify anti-terrorist security measures.
The newly acquired barriers incorporate a fencing system that automatically activates upon contact with a vehicle, deploying wedges on the surface to immobilize the vehicle and possibly elevate it from the ground. Their capacity enables them to stop a 7.5-ton vehicle traveling at 40 km/h and a 3.5-ton vehicle at 60 km/h. Police sources conveyed that in the previous year, large vehicles such as sanitation trucks were utilized to block areas with high public traffic during the Carnival street celebrations. This, paired with automatic bollards, prevented unauthorized vehicle access. However, with the introduction of these new barriers, better street control and enhanced event security are anticipated. Councilor for Citizen Security, Gladis de León, highlighted the extensive pre-event planning and organization involving nearly a hundred Local Police officers, complemented by Civil Protection personnel and a comprehensive healthcare support from the Red Cross. National Police personnel will also be engaged in security operations.
Parking Restrictions
As the Parade takes shape, parking will be prohibited on several central streets. These restrictions will have varying timeframes as specified. Commencing from 7:00 a.m. today, parking will be affected on Madrid Avenue, from Unamuno to Belgium Avenue, as well as on Ramón y Cajal street, between Castro and Benavides streets, and on Duggi Street to Benavides Street. The subsequent prohibition schedule will commence at 12:00 p.m., extending the parking limit to Belgium Avenue, from Comodoro Rolín Street to the Dominican Republic. Following this, starting at 3:00 p.m., these measures will be further enforced on Ramón y Cajal street, from Asuncionistas to Alfaro street.
Starting at 6:00 p.m., the Local Police will proceed with the closure of Marítima Avenue, from Plaza de España towards the city entrance, Francisco La Roche Avenue at the surface lane commencement of the Vía Litoral tunnel, Ni Fu Ni Fa Street from the General Serrador Bridge, Marítima Avenue at its juncture with San Sebastián Street, and Bravo Murillo Street from the same point. Once the Quadrilateral is cordoned off, access to the Anaga neighborhoods and towns will be redirected through the internal route of the dock, using the entry through Constitución Avenue and the exit through the Fishing Dock. This route will remain accessible to general traffic until 10:00 p.m. Public transportation will also undergo alterations.
