The Termination of Entry to TF-5 from Guamasa Promises Ten Minutes of Saved Waiting Time
The closure of access to TF-5 from Guamasa during the morning peak hours will save ten minutes of queuing for about 20,000 people who commute daily from the north of the island to Santa Cruz in 18,000 vehicles. The economic evaluation of this measure’s benefits amounts to 30 million euros annually, and in terms of sustainability, it will prevent the emission of 1,174 tons of gases into the atmosphere over the same period. However, the immediate implementation is not expected since the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife) has announced preliminary improvement works, expected to last between six and eight months and costing one million euros, on alternative routes. These include over (TF-152) and under (TF-235) the Northern Motorway to alleviate traffic for the residents in the affected neighborhoods of La Laguna – about 800 vehicles during peak hours. This initiative is based on a report from the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, made public by EL DÍA, confirming a 15% improvement in traffic flow – in some cases reaching 19% – on one of the most congested roads in the Canary Islands, following a pilot test conducted over ten days in October and November of last year. It is projected to commence as a permanent arrangement towards the end of the year, involving a closure between 6:30 am and 8:30 am. This was announced on Monday by the President of the Island Council, Rosa Dávila, the Vice President, Lope Afonso, and the Mobility Councillor, Eulalia García, who also presented the results of the aforementioned Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) study.
Rosa Dávila emphasized that “the report confirms that the measures we took have been successful.” She stressed that “no accidents were recorded on TF-5 or in the surrounding roads during those days,” and “there was a reduction of between 10 and 15 percent in travel times over the four-kilometer route.”
Furthermore, Dávila indicated that “if we extrapolate the data to an average 30-kilometer journey, purely by closing the Guamasa entry, travel time is reduced by 20 percent,” equating to a ten-minute reduction for journeys from La Orotava or Puerto de la Cruz to the capital, from 55 to 45 minutes.
Vice President of the Tenerife Island Council, Lope Afonso, described his perspective on the measure using a dual approach: first, as a “reporter” experiencing the daily queues on TF-5, and second, as an island tourism councillor, considering the impact of the planned improvements on the Island’s economic motor.
Afonso stated that “the determination to identify immediate solutions to the problems detected within a few months of coming into office, and to put them into effect,” was crucial. He also linked prudence to “waiting for data, such as those provided by the DGT, to take definitive action.”
Afonso directly connected the time savings on the roads to “improved services and tourism, in general, as well as to the logistics of the Island, which will have a positive impact on its productive fabric.”
The report from the Provincial Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) establishes four main axes in its conclusions.
Firstly, on a standard 30-kilometer journey from the north to Santa Cruz, a significant time saving is estimated. During peak hours on workdays, the average journey from Puerto de la Cruz to Santa Cruz takes 55 minutes, and with the closure of Guamasa, this would be reduced by 20%, saving about 10 and a half minutes.
If this measure were to be permanently implemented during peak hours on workdays, based on the previous data, the 20,000 daily commuters would reduce their travel time on the TF-5 by 20%, gaining 46 hours a year.The DGT report endorses the decision taken after the pilot test as a success
The performance, thirdly, would also allow a reduction in fuel consumption and, therefore, economic savings for drivers, as well as the improvement of air quality by reducing the CO2 emissions from their vehicles. This way, more than a thousand tons of greenhouse gases would stop being emitted each year.
Lastly, the initiative would also have a positive effect on the economy of Tenerife, outlined by the vice president, Lope Afonso, as more than 800,000 unproductive hours (828,000) would be eliminated each year, representing an opportunity cost exceeding 30 million euros.
These quantities were calculated in the meeting prior to the press conference to report the conclusions to the economic and productive sectors of the Island, as well as to the mayors and councilors of the north, including those of La Laguna. The summary of the advantages, if a single vehicle is considered, would be 46 hours saved per year at the wheel and 62.8 fewer kilos of CO2 emissions. If extrapolated to 18,000 cars, it would be 828,000 hours and 1,134 tons of saving.
Actions to take
The Cabildo, after analyzing various alternatives and studies, proposes two improvement actions in the access links to the TF-5 from the TF-235 and the TF-152. They are reliable, safe, and logical alternatives to improve the displacements of the residents of Guamasa and other neighborhoods of La Laguna or even Tegueste, users of the Northern Highway. They will avoid joining in a congested area and, however, they will do so at the point where there are already three lanes to better absorb the traffic.
Determination and prudence guided a positive action for tourism
First, action will be taken at the roundabout and bridge in front of the old terminal of the Northern Airport. On the one hand, to intervene and direct the traffic that passed through there from the upper zone of the highway and avoid stops. On the other hand, to attract the flow from the lower area of the TF-5 to connect it, passing under the bridge, where the third lane begins.
There will also be action on the elevated roundabout that is on the highway at the Tenerife North-City of La Laguna Airport exit. The idea is to facilitate another access from the lower area of the highway that, through that elevated roundabout, will allow to join the TF-5 at a point of the three lanes freed from congestion.
The objective of these measures is to conduct the traffic of the residents of the area from both sides of the highway, without interruptions, with preference, and smoothly, to the TF-5. Thus, both the 20,000 vehicles coming from the north at rush hour and the 800 from Guamasa will improve that fluidity. Let it flow.
There are three fundamental actions to alleviate traffic on the TF-5 near Guamasa, which the DGT report supports. One, the closure of link 14 connecting the lagoon town and the Highway to give circulation fluidity from the north. The other two are alternatives for the roads that run parallel, intended for the residents of neighboring towns such as Guamasa, El Ortigal, or El Portezuelo, already in Tegueste.
1. Guamasa Link
The first measure taken as a pilot test last year and the last that will become a daily reality, probably in the last quarter of 2024 after completing the two alternatives for residents in the area. It consists of closing access number 14 between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m., Monday to Friday.
2. Improved TF-152 access
Action will be taken at the roundabout and bridge in front of the old terminal of the northern airport. On the one hand, to direct the traffic that passed through there from the upper area of the TF-5 and avoid stops; on the other, to attract traffic from the lower area of the TF-5 and connect it below it, where the third lane begins.
3. Airport Link
Action will be taken at the elevated roundabout that is on the highway at the Tenerife North-City of La Laguna Airport exit to facilitate another access from the lower area of the TF-5 at a point of the three lanes already practically freed from congestion.
