The progress of the project depends on the environmental impact statement, and the completion of the ring road is still pending
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 23 Feb (EUROPA PRESS) –
On Friday, the Canarian Government and the Cabildo of Tenerife have jointly identified the construction of the third lane on the TF-5 between Guamasa and the airport as a top priority project. This lane, directed towards the descending flow, aims to alleviate traffic congestion.
This information was shared by the Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Housing, Pablo Rodríguez, along with the island’s president, Rosa Dávila. They revealed that before the project can proceed, it must obtain the environmental impact statement approval– a documentation that is currently under review by the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Once approved, the project is estimated to be put out to tender at a cost of approximately 55 million euros.
Another priority highlighted in the regional highway plan is the addition of extra lanes in both directions between San Isidro and Oroteanda, in line with the ongoing works at the Las Chafiras interchange, nearing completion.
Rodríguez added, “We are further along with TF-1 compared to TF-5, but both are our primary focuses in the immediate future.” He mentioned that the Ministry has allocated around 400 million euros for various projects on the island, with 250 million specifically designated for the Erjos tunnel in the west, which will complete the ring road.
The minister stated that this particular section of the project is relatively straightforward due to a low number of required property expropriations. However, challenges remain, including the need for an agreement with Aena regarding the airport’s infrastructure, in addition to addressing environmental impact considerations such as the surrounding palm grove.
Dávila concurred with the minister on the urgency of expanding the TF-5 by adding a third lane to combat traffic jams. She also mentioned that there are well-developed projects on the TF-1 that will soon be tendered, alongside the initiation of reinstating the Ofra-El Chorrillo road.
With regards to the La Laguna bypass, a project initiated towards the end of the previous term, Rodríguez explained that the project is still pending review by the department.
Lope Afonso, the vice president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, praised the substantial support provided by the Canarian Government in the island’s road infrastructure development, emphasizing the positive impact on economic competitiveness and mobility enhancement.
Highlighting advancements in housing, the minister expressed that 530 public housing units will be constructed this year on the island. These homes will be offered for “social rental” or “affordable rental”, marking a significant increase after a period of stagnation in recent years.
The minister affirmed that promoting access to housing will be a key priority in this legislative term through the implementation of the Canary Islands Housing Plan, the State Housing Plan, and the newly passed decree law on urgent housing measures to address the pressing needs of citizens.
“A HOUSING CRISIS EXISTS ACROSS THE CANARY ISLANDS”
Acknowledging the housing shortage crisis across the Canary Islands, no municipality has yet requested the declaration of a ‘tensioned area’ under the state housing law to regulate prices.
Both Dávila and Afonso highlighted the Cabildo’s commitment, earmarking five million euros to purchase land or incomplete properties in various municipalities on the island, with a maximum limit of one million euros per municipality, to make them available at affordable prices.
Additionally, the president praised the Government’s programme to encourage population settlement in rural areas. The Cabildo plans to acquire land and motivate municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants to offer land plots in areas like Isla Baja, addressing the issue of depopulation.
The working meeting between the Cabildo and the Ministry also addressed other initiatives, including projects to enhance coastal accessibility and the EU decarbonisation and sustainable mobility programme known as “Transport Posei”.
