Preparations will commence this April to dismantle the canopy at the former San Benito station in La Laguna by the City Council. The area will be refurbished to reinstate it as a parking lot, with the hope of reopening before the summer season, once all necessary safety precautions have been put in place, stated Ángel Chinea, the Councilor for Works and Infrastructure.
The parking facility has been inaccessible since last April, cordoned off with a perimeter fence as a safety measure due to the potential risk posed by certain components of the metal canopy structure.
According to the Works Department, the project involves the removal of the current canopy at the old station to create an open space and ensure the safety of the public area. The removal will entail dismantling a 1,241.7 square meter metal roof. The allocated budget for the project stands at 41,197.14 euros, with an estimated completion time of around 20 working days once the work commences.
Given the need for heavy machinery to carry out the project, access to the area must be restricted for safety reasons, including the closure of the service road from TF-5 (entrance 10 A through San Benito) to Don Quijote Street. Alternative routes for users will be available via Candelaria Avenue for access to La Laguna city centre.
The Works Department is currently finalizing the requested signage plan by the Council, as the road is a crucial connection to the highway. The road closure is scheduled to be completed within a morning.
Ángel Chinea elaborated, “The actual dismantling of the structure itself is not overly complex. The challenge lies in the handling and positioning of the machinery in the area. Hence, a detailed signage plan has been developed to ensure the intervention is carried out safely throughout.” The dismantling process will involve a backhoe with a special clamp, preceded by manual preparation of the structure. Approximately 40,299 kilos of iron will be disassembled for potential future reuse. Following the removal of the structure, the damaged asphalt pavement will be repaired and markings reinstated.
Ángel Chinea expressed, “Once the structure is cleared, immediate repair of the parking area’s deteriorated sections will be conducted. We aim to have the parking facility reopened before summer, pending proper signage by the Citizen Security department if all goes as planned.”
“This renovation is a much-awaited development in the San Benito neighbourhood, providing a considerable number of parking spaces once again,” he highlighted.
It is worth noting that the City Council’s long-term vision is to transform this former station into the new headquarters for the Local Police, following the transfer of ownership by the Canary Islands Government in March last year. During the renovation phase, the space will continue to function as a public parking area.
