The excavation activities of the Erjos tunnel, which links the towns of El Tanque, situated in the northern region of Tenerife, and Santiago del Teide, located in the south, have successfully completed the 5.1-kilometre structure this Thursday, making it the longest in the Canary Islands and the first interurban tunnel in Spain featuring dual tubes.
The Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez, along with the general director of Road Infrastructure, Rosana Melián, have overseen the project, which forms a part of the Tenerife Island Ring.
During the inspection, they were joined by the president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila; the mayor of Los Silos, Carmen Luz Baso; the first deputy mayor and councillor for Works and Services, Funeral Services and Housing of the El Tanque City Council, Jennifer Rosales; and the councillor for Citizen Security, Police, Mobility and Accessibility, Traffic, and Coordination of the departments of Santiago del Teide City Council, Ibrahim Forte.
This initiative will enhance communication between the northern and southern parts of the island and will alleviate congestion in the Santa Cruz – La Laguna metropolitan area, particularly on the TF-5.
The councillor highlighted that “this is one of the most significant projects currently underway by the regional government, and it represents the Highway Agreement with the highest budget”, totalling over 260 million euros, which includes an initial budget of 241,470,628 euros and 22,242,877 euros allocated for price revisions paid in 2023. “It will help to preserve the Teno massif and greatly enhance connectivity between the north and south of the island,” Rodríguez emphasised.
“The Government of the Canary Islands is dedicated to ensuring that this project is executed with minimal impact, striving to meet deadlines and adhere to the planned budget. This achievement exemplifies our commitment to enhancing infrastructure and the quality of life for all residents of Tenerife,” Rodríguez stated.
In line with this, the restoration of the deserted quarries of La Grama and the Bilma mountain, located near Santiago del Teide, has been undertaken; alongside the production of concrete, asphalt, and the creation of esplanades using surplus material from the tunnel excavation.
