The port of Los Cristianos is one of the infrastructures in Tenerife that most often makes headlines regarding the need for improvement works.
After years of uncertainty and a rise in passenger numbers, these works seem closer than ever, as the Ministry of Transport plans to build a new terminal and construct two new parking levels for vehicles.
The ministry’s intentions came to light thanks to a question from the senator for the Gomera Socialist Group, Fabián Chinea, who inquired about the planned actions for this infrastructure.
The senator has revealed that the ministry intends to demolish the current passenger building, extend the car park with two new levels, build a modern terminal, and create an underground access to the port area, “aimed at eliminating the left turn that currently congests the entrance and poses a risk to traffic.”
At the moment, there is no set date for the start of the works, although for Chinea, “it is clearly urgent” to carry out these improvements.
The works that could be closer are those for reinforcing the breakwater, as the Port Authority “plans to award the final reinforcement works for the breakwater in Los Cristianos shortly, with an investment of 5.3 million euros.”
Additionally, they have put out to tender the construction project to reorganise the land service area, with an additional budget of 168,361 euros.
Moreover, it is reported that a new Delimitation of Port Spaces and Uses is being processed to incorporate 416 square metres at the northern end of the southern dock of Tenerife.
Surrounding all these projects is an even larger proposal that is currently stalled: the possible expansion of the port. A report from the College of Civil Engineers of Santa Cruz de Tenerife concludes that the best options for increasing maritime connections between the three green islands and Tenerife are to expand this port through a new breakwater or to reduce the current construction project of the port of Fonsalía.
The two options have pros and cons, as the report outlines, but they also generate a division among the political parties. While Coalition Canaria supports the expansion of the port of Los Cristianos, the Popular Party advocates for the construction of Fonsalía.
This presents a confrontation of significant positions, as both parties govern in the Cabildo of Tenerife and the Government of the Canary Islands.
In light of this situation, the Gomera senator is asking the central government to explain its position regarding the possible expansion of the current breakwater or the construction of an outer dock at the port of Los Cristianos. He has also demanded that “the participation of the Canary institutions and the Cabildo of Tenerife itself be guaranteed in the future planning of this infrastructure.”
This direct reference to the Cabildo of Tenerife comes after a war of words between the president of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, and her counterpart in La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, who warned her that he was preparing a demonstration for August to call for measures at the port.
Despite this, there have been no meetings among the Port Authority, the cabildos, the State, and the Town Hall of Arona to address the issue.
“Los Cristianos cannot continue to be a bottleneck for maritime connectivity. It is time for State Ports to take the definitive step to turn this infrastructure into a modern, efficient node that meets the needs of the citizens,” concluded the ASG senator.
To the entire situation of infrastructure collapse, there is also the overlap in shipping schedules at the port. This week, the Gomera president has called for a reorganisation of the shipping schedules by the Government of the Canary Islands in coordination with the companies providing the service.
