Controversy Surrounds Third Lane Project on TF-5
The announcement that the Canary Islands Government has approved the construction of a third lane on the TF-5 motorway, between Guamasa and Tenerife North Airport, has taken local residents by surprise. Although they were aware of the project, they did not expect it to be so advanced, having received little communication from authorities. This 3.6-kilometre undertaking, with a budget of €66.4 million and a projected execution period of 35 months, aims to alleviate one of the most congested traffic points in Tenerife. The plan includes the redesign of the connections at Guamasa, San Lázaro, and El Púlpito, as well as a new direct access to the airport.
A Solution to a Long-standing Issue?
On paper, the project appears to be an urgent fix to a deep-rooted problem. However, in Guamasa—where the motorway literally divides the neighbourhood—community reactions lean towards distrust. The president of the local residents’ association shared with Atlántico Hoy that they learned of the development once again through the press, specifically from a press conference held by the island council’s president. His tone reflected a sense of resignation, as this is not the first time they have been left in the dark. “We are at the centre of the issue, yet we have no idea how it will affect us. It would be reasonable for them to inform the local residents as soon as possible if a budget is already in place,” he asserted.
Lingering Memories of Past Closures
Distrust is fuelled by past experiences. Not long ago, the council trialled closing the Guamasa access to the TF-5 during peak hours. The experiment lasted only a few days but left a lasting impact. “A year ago, they conducted tests on closing the Guamasa exit. They claimed traffic on the motorway was flowing, but all adjacent roads were congested. Even residents from Punta del Hidalgo and Ravelo complained due to blocked secondary routes,” the association president recounted. Following the trial, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) endorsed the closure in a report dated December 2023. In that document, the DGT acknowledged that the closure had improved traffic flow by 10 to 15%, but warned that its effectiveness “depends on complementary actions being taken on alternative routes; otherwise, congestion will simply shift to adjacent roads.”
DGT Recommendations
The report even detailed necessary actions, such as “removing or modifying the existing roundabout on the TF-235, which forces vehicles using the road to yield,” “opening the lane parallel to the TF-235, currently closed off by physical barriers,” and “extending the merge lane from the TF-152 to the TF-5, as its limited length creates bottlenecks.” For local residents, those promises never materialised. “It came to nothing. They said they would revisit it and even proposed setting up parking-type barriers to regulate entry, but we never heard anything more. Now they announce the third lane, yet we still lack direct information,” lamented the president.
Details of the Current Project
Some of the recommendations from the DGT seem to have been incorporated into the new third lane project, such as the extension of various acceleration lanes at the Guamasa and San Lázaro junctions. The proposal, approved in May by the Autonomous Commission for Environmental Assessment, addresses some of these concerns. The official documentation states that the new route will shift the motorway’s alignment northward, “thus avoiding the expropriation of properties, mainly affecting the existing terracing between the TF-5 and the TF-152 road.” In simple terms, homes won’t be affected, but adjacent land—including slopes, landscaped areas, and small family gardens—will be occupied.
The project anticipates the occupation of 18,716 square metres of new land and more than 41,000 cubic metres of earth movement. According to the document, the impact will be permanent in terms of landscape. To mitigate this, plans include replanting over 50,000 square metres of vegetation and transplanting Canary Island palm specimens. While these measures are seen as steps towards environmental integration by technicians, local residents view them as promises that are difficult to verify. “There are neighbours whose walls are right next to the motorway. We want to know what will happen to them,” the representative insisted.
The Relentless Noise
Another major concern is noise pollution. The environmental report acknowledges that residents are already exposed to levels exceeding legal limits. During the 20-month construction period, the impact from excavation, trucks, and heavy machinery will only increase. The General Directorate of Public Health deemed the proposal to rely on “visual inspections” of emissions as inadequate, calling for regular instrumental measurements in nearby homes. The situation regarding suspended dust is equally troubling: with homes situated less than fifty metres from the roadway, this has escalated into a public health issue.
Residents fear a repeat of the previous closure experience: improvisation, congestion on secondary roads, and a lack of communication with the public. “No one explains anything to us. They publish an announcement or hold a press conference, but there is never a follow-up; no meetings to inform us how it will unfold or how we will be affected. You have to ask them yourself,” the president criticises.
