Tenerife maintains the «interest» in building the third lane of the Autopista del Norte, the TF-5, which would lead from Guamasa to The lagoon. It is an old aspiration, but at the moment it is requesting regional funding in order to make it a reality. The island president Peter Martinmakes it clear that its cost is “unaffordable” for the corporation. Clarify that «When we arrived it was supposed to be between seven and eight million euros, but the reality is that it exceeds fifty». This was confirmed by Martín during the presentation of the items allocated this year to the Roads area. He considers that the development of this route should be included in the agreement at the Canarian level. The island councilor, Enrique Arriaga, who accompanied him, has assured that the project prepared by the previous government group “It did not have an environmental impact report, an essential requirement.”
Martín, Arriaga and the insular director of Highways, Tomás Félix García, have revealed that the Cabildo will allocate a budget of 68,255,712 euros to the area this year. They represent an increase of 7% compared to last year, almost five million more. Of this total, 50.8 million will be dedicated directly to investments.
“We have discovered that the third rail has gone from 8 million to 50, something unaffordable”
Regarding the third lane of the TF-5 between Guamasa and Los Rodeos, in the absence of environmental processing, “an aspect that had not been taken into account by the previous Corporation”, Martín values. Now the process is waiting for the Ecological Transition Department of the Government of the Canary Islands to resolve this report in order to put the project out to tender.
Arriaga has added that there will also be a modification in the plan due to another work to be carried out, the La Laguna bypass, which would connect with Guamasa. For this reason, the projected by-pass roundabout would be the responsibility of the Autonomous Community.
“We work on 3 lines: infrastructures, ‘black spots’ and maintenance”
Pedro Martín has highlighted the continuity in the execution of actions such as the Padre Anchieta footbridge, the burying of the TF-24 –directly connected to alleviate the collapses in the TF-5–, upon its arrival at the La Laguna roundabout, and the resurfacing of the pavement of both the TF-1 (South) and the TF-5 (North) for which more than 30 million have been invested. The most advanced work that would provide an important solution to traffic congestion in the area is the Padre Anchieta walkway, in La Laguna, despite the fact that the movement is not visible since the structure is being built on the peninsula and will be moved to Tenerife for subsequent assembly. The burying of the Esperanza highway is expected to be completed in the summer to put it into operation for the next school year, as several educational centers are located in the area. Both actions represent a total expense of 17 million. Although different companies have been tendered, they work “in a coordinated manner”, according to the insular director. Among the actions already carried out, the improvement of the intersections in El Médano, Chayofa, Tegueste and Guargacho stand out. Other crossings in El Portezuelo, La Victoria or Santa Úrsula are in tender.
68.2 million euros
It is the budget for this year 2022 of the Highways area. Specifically, 68,255,712 euros, which is 7% more, 4,755,712, compared to 2021. Of these, 50.8 in investments.
three axes
Arriaga has detailed that the work consists of putting in place the necessary infrastructure to reduce the circulatory collapse suffered by the Island and that “they have not been updated in more than twenty years.” He summarizes that work is being done along three fundamental lines: pending infrastructures, improvement of black spots and road maintenance. The improvement of accident concentration sections and conservation are two aspects where “correct action had not been taken”. The most outstanding actions that will be carried out this year are, among others, the urbanization of Calle de El Sol on the TF-226, in El Rosario; that of the TF-180 between Vistabella and Cruz del Señor, in Santa Cruz, and the Travesía de Alcalá, in the South.
Rehabilitation
The roads with rehabilitation works planned for 2022 are the TF-13 and TF-16, as they pass through Tejina and Valle de Guerra, in La Laguna; the TF-620, in Fasnia; the TF-366 and the TF-373, in El Amparo and La Vega, in Icod de los Vinos. The intersections of the TF-152, in Tegueste, and those of the TF-217 will also be improved with the construction of roundabouts in La Victoria and Santa Úrsula on the access branches to the TF-5.
30.9 million euros
Intended for works and actions awarded for this year. It is worth highlighting the works to unclog the TF-5 in La Laguna, the actions in this and the TF-1, and the emergency works.
“Complicated”
Pedro Martín has recalled that on roads “we start from a complicated reality, with a citizenry that demands solutions to the traffic jams of decades”. He explains that “when we arrived there were no completed projects and others had not been defined with the Government of the Canary Islands. Today that has changed and we hope that when this mandate ends we can have them finished. This collaboration, he summarizes, “has allowed us to make decisive progress in the project to close the Insular Ring or in Chafiras-Oroteanda.”
Conservation
Tomás García has stressed that maintenance and conservation is a “priority” for which 21.6 million will be invested, which almost triples the investment in three years. In addition, it is expected that phase IV of pavement rehabilitation will begin on TF-1 and TF-5, as well as a large number of improvement and asphalting actions along the entire island road, charged to the remainder.
