The Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Environmental Assessment Commission, has reported favorably on the Environmental Impact Statement (DIA) for the update of the layout and construction project of the Closure of the Island Ring of Tenerife; more specifically, of the new road from San Juan de la Rambla-Icod de Los Vinos, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Government of the Canary Islands.
This favorable declaration will be published in the next few days in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) and arrives after carrying out the relevant public information and consultation procedure with all the affected administrations and people involved, and after collecting all the mandatory reports from the different services to consult.
Among other conditions, it is established that a study of air quality in pre-operational states must be carried out, as a starting point and a comparison with the situations that occur during the construction and operation phases.
With regard to noise pollution, for all the phases into which the project is divided, a noise measurement point must be added to those already proposed and additional documentation for monitoring and control of possible sound effects.
Once the construction project of the future highway is defined, including all the detailed and precise information of the final action, and being aware of all the actions, actions and works necessary for its construction and start-up, it will be available to prepare an Annex on Environmental Restoration and Landscape Integration, which must include the considerations and conditions provided by the different public administrations that have reported on the matter.
Vegetation and flora surveys
Prior to the start of the works and during the verification phase of the redefinition, it must be carried out by a professional with a technical profile specializing in flora/vegetation and Canarian fauna, new surveys and inventories of vegetation and flora, as well as birds and bats. (bats) for the entire route of the future highway.
The Environmental Impact Study of the project incorporates an Environmental Surveillance Program that, as long as it does not contradict the conditions of the previous section, is considered an integral part of this favorable EIS.
It should be remembered that the route between the two municipalities began to be drawn up in 2001, was approved in 2008 and has remained dormant ever since, until it was updated by the aforementioned regional department. It has a 5.1 kilometer route that runs mostly through tunnels, specifically three, a viaduct and a cut and cover tunnel, and has been designed for a project speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
The section between both municipalities will connect in the future with the action that the Cabildo de Tenerife, in coordination with the Canarian Government, is also planning to improve the TF-5 between Los Realejos and San Juan de La Rambla, the only project pending completion the closure of the Island Ring.
Modification El Tanque-Santiago del Teide
In the same Environmental Evaluation Commission, held yesterday, the DIA of the modified project of the update of the New project of the El Tanque-Santiago del Teide Section (Closure of the Insular Ring of Tenerife) was approved, also promoted by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Government of the Canary Islands.
This last section is another part of the closure of the Ring that is already in the construction phase and that has a budget of 240 million. The forecast is that it will be finished in March 2025.
