SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 2nd April. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Thursday, the first module of the extensive pedestrian pathway encircling the Padre Anchieta roundabout is scheduled to arrive in Tenerife after being transported by sea from the port of Seville. The transportation and installation of this structure is unparalleled on the island, necessitating the deployment of a bespoke transportation operation by both sea and land due to the module weighing 10 tonnes, stretching over 30 meters, and possessing a curved shape.
Rosa Dávila, the president of the Cabildo, emphasised that this marks “a landmark occasion for Tenerife as it unveils an infrastructure crucial for the island’s mobility, revolutionising traffic flow in the northern region.” “We have opted for an innovative solution within the island’s road network, such as this extensive pedestrian pathway, in order to enhance traffic efficiency around the Padre Anchieta roundabout and bolster pedestrian safety,” she added.
Dávila also highlighted that this project is “long-awaited and, when combined with other planned initiatives by the government, will enhance traffic flow significantly in a key region for improving mobility.” She expressed her desire for this project, initiated by the Tenerife Cabildo with an acquisition cost of 1.8 million euros last November, to be well underway before the year concludes.
Dámaso Arteaga, the Minister of Highways, outlined that the transfer and installation of this structure will necessitate an elaborate operation commencing from the early hours of Thursday night, with assembly works to begin the following week. Arteaga also noted that the module is currently in transit aboard the Andalucía Exprés vessel, a ship with a capacity of 12,000 tonnes, a draft of 7.20 meters, and operated by the CMA-CGM company. The cargo is expected to arrive at the port of Santa Cruz around 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, where it will be loaded onto a 38-meter-long truck weighing 47 tonnes.
Transporting the module will be a slow process due to the substantial tonnage of the cargo, totalling 128 tonnes. The truck will set off from the TF-11 in the Glorieta de Las Olas area, proceeding through the Vía Litoral Tunnel, TF-1, Juan Amigó de Lara Tunnel (Tres de Mayo), before finally ascending the TF-5 to the Padre Anchieta interchange, specifically to the roundabout where the module will be positioned. The transport of the walkway module will necessitate specific and temporary traffic diversions.
PROJECT PARTICULARS
Construction on this roundabout in La Laguna commenced in November 2021, with the contract awarded to Obras Huarte Lain SA for a sum of 8.8 million euros. The project comprises a continuous curved ring-shaped beam of approximately 100 meters in diameter, supported by a system of specific structures, with a plaza attached to the current parking area of the Faculty of Biology at the University of La Laguna. The total length of the ring is anticipated to be around 314 meters.
The Padre Anchieta Pedestrian Walkway aims to enhance road safety conditions in an area heavily frequented by university students travelling to the science faculties in the vicinity. Furthermore, it represents a project of pivotal significance in the island government’s strategy to alleviate congestion not only in this critical juncture connecting the centre of La Laguna or the municipality of El Rosario but throughout the TF-5.
