The teams working on the Erjos tunnel, linking the towns of El Tanque in the north of the island and Santiago del Teide in the south, successfully completed the excavation of this 5.1-kilometre infrastructure on Thursday. This tunnel is the longest in the Canary Islands and the first interurban tunnel with two tubes in Spain.
This development will improve connectivity between the northern and southern regions of the island while alleviating traffic congestion in the Santa Cruz – La Laguna metropolitan area, specifically on the TF-5, as reported by the Government of the Canary Islands.
This section is part of the Tenerife island ring, and several officials supervised the excavation’s completion today, including the Minister of Public Works, Pablo Rodríguez; the mayor of Los Silos, Carmen Luz Baso; and local councillors from Santiago del Teide and El Tanque.
Pablo Rodríguez emphasised the significance of this project, noting that it faced unforeseen challenges due to decisions made by the previous administration. He stated that it was ultimately resolved after reaching an agreement with the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands to ensure its continuation “in the interest of the common good.”
“The Government of the Canary Islands is dedicated to ensuring that this project progresses with minimal impact, adhering to timelines and budget estimates,” Rodríguez affirmed.
The investment in the Tenerife Island Ring has currently reached 263 million euros, comprising an initial budget of 241,470,628 euros and 22,242,877 euros in price adjustments made in 2023.
In this context, the consortium awarded the contract, consisting of FCC Construction, Syocsa-Inarsa, and El Silbo, has completed 62% of the budget thus far.
The Erjos tunnel features two parallel tubes, each measuring 5,095 metres, with 4,855 metres designated as a mine tunnel, 140 metres for a false tunnel at the southern entrance, and 100 metres for a false tunnel at the northern entrance.
The excavation was primarily carried out using blasting techniques simultaneously at the four entrances of the two tubes that form the tunnel.
Moreover, the project is currently creating 35 direct jobs and 80 indirect jobs, operating three shifts a day, seven days a week.
The Government further notes that during the construction phase, environmental initiatives valued at 18 million euros have been implemented to ensure sustainability and environmental stewardship.
In line with these efforts, restoration work has been conducted on the abandoned quarries of La Grama and Bilma mountain, situated near Santiago del Teide, along with the production of concrete, asphalt, and the creation of platforms using surplus materials from the tunnel excavation.
Another planned feature includes the establishment of a green buffer zone that separates the centre of Santiago del Teide from the new road’s impacts, as well as the restoration of habitats of community interest in the area, alongside modifications to the structure that protects Barranco Hondo to preserve a significant area of habitats.
