Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez of La Laguna, and President Rosa Dávila of the Tenerife Cabildo, have revealed their joint commitment to drive forward the TF-5 variant project. This project aims to eventually bury the highway as it passes through the urban area of La Laguna, with the objective of “eliminating the scar that currently divides our city,” stated the mayor.
Furthermore, President Dávila announced the development of a third lane between Guamasa and the Tenerife North-City of La Laguna Airport, in a downward direction. The Cabildo is likely to allocate a budget of 55 million euros for this project, along with other improvements to enhance mobility. A meeting between the technical teams of both administrations will be scheduled in the upcoming days to discuss the implementation of this initiative in the area.
This announcement followed a productive working meeting to progress various shared projects between the two administrations, including housing, road infrastructure, water management, construction projects, mobility enhancements, and historical heritage preservation, among others.
The mayor extended his gratitude to the president and her team for the Cabildo’s readiness to conduct this meeting, enabling an update on critical issues that greatly impact the municipality. “Ensuring a smooth collaboration between institutions is paramount for us, ensuring that the agreements reached are in the best interest of our citizens,” highlighted the mayor.
“We are fully committed to fostering a close and seamless cooperation to realise the significant projects planned for La Laguna. We will work tirelessly towards this common objective,” remarked Luis Yeray Gutiérrez.
In her remarks, the President of the Cabildo mentioned that parallel meetings had taken place today across various departments to address specific issues related to housing and water management. “We are on the right track, with a solid foundation of collaboration, based on dialogue and attentive listening to the voices of our citizens,” added the island’s president.
Regarding other road projects in the pipeline, both leaders highlighted the agreement to urbanize certain crossings that intersect with the urban fabric of La Laguna, currently under island ownership. These crossings are set to be enhanced with dedicated walkways, lighting installations, street fixtures, and subsequently transferred to the City Council as municipal property. This urbanisation plan includes sections such as the Las Mercedes highway, San Miguel de Geneto, San Bartolomé, and the TF-16 route.
During the meeting, updates were provided on the progress of the Padre Anchieta walkway works, expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2025. It was also noted that maintaining the Interchange building necessitates moving the bus parking area to Avenida Ángel Guimerá for a projected period of over a year. Additionally, efforts are underway to renew the urban transport agreement, including the introduction of new buses.
Advancements in Hydraulic Infrastructure and Housing
Regarding water management initiatives, both the City Council and the Cabildo are aligned in recognizing the urgency of advancing a strategic infrastructure investment plan. In the case of La Laguna, the focus is primarily on the desalination plant in the Northeast Region, which will significantly alleviate water supply challenges in this municipal area,” stated the mayor.
President Rosa Dávila highlighted plans to expedite the timeline for this critical infrastructure, which will be regionally owned and necessitate an investment exceeding 35 million euros. However, the implementation process requires a minimum period of 28 months. In response, the Cabildo intends to set up temporary portable desalination plants to address emergency situations and provide water supply for the agricultural sector.
On the housing front, the president disclosed the Council’s intent to initiate the acquisition process of three military barracks under the Ministry of Defense in the municipality (El Cristo, Ingenieros, and Ofra) to secure land for residential construction. A meeting between both administrations is scheduled for this Thursday to discuss this matter.
Progress updates on the housing replacement scheme in the Las Chumberas urbanization, developments at Finca Escuder, and collaborative efforts on historical heritage preservation for the conservation and restoration of properties in the historic centre were among the topics deliberated during the meeting. Both the mayor and the president announced forthcoming sector-specific and technical meetings for continuous monitoring of these initiatives that directly impact the municipality of La Laguna.
