The Tenerife Island Council has agreed to advance the construction of the third lane between Guamasa and Los Rodeos to ease traffic on the TF-5, the Northern motorway. This was ratified yesterday by the Government Council in a session focusing on Mobility and Works. In the latter section, the refurbishment of the interior and facade of the annex to the Insular Palace for €14 million and an execution period of 32 months were highlighted. This was announced by the president, Rosa Dávila, and the vice president, Lope Afonso, in a press conference to discuss the matters addressed.
Drive
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Favorable technical reports from various areas of the Island Corporation support the project for the third lane on the TF-5, downhill direction, between Guamasa and the North Airport. Dávila argued that “all are positive” regarding the Territorial Plan of the Road System of the Metropolitan Area and the Island’s mobility model. It also does not affect any Cultural Interest Site nor does it involve a significant increase in the consumption of natural resources.
Dávila hopes that before the end of the year, an agreement will be signed with the Canary Islands Government for the Island Council to directly carry out the work. The only thing pending is the Environmental Impact Statement, which she hopes will be “favourable and prompt” to then approve the specifications and start the project. This involves adapting the road for the construction of the infrastructure from the current Guamasa junction (kilometre 15) to the San Lázaro link (11.400) where the section already consists of three lanes towards Santa Cruz. The total length is 3.6 kilometres.
The primary objective since the first minute of the arrival of the Coalition Canaria and the Popular Party to the Island government is to improve traffic flow in a section with high concentrations of vehicles and enhance safety conditions in an area with a high accident rate. The report will now be forwarded to the Government of Canarias, and the intention is to sign an agreement with the government for the Island Council to carry out the works of a project that has already been drafted, with an estimated cost of around €55 million.
Construction
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The Government Council also approved the tender for the interior rehabilitation and facade restoration works of the Annex to the Insular Palace for an amount around €14 million. The works will have an execution period of 32 months once awarded. President Rosa Dávila estimated the total cost of the entire external image renovation of the Council at just over €37 million, including “removing the horrible canvas that has covered this house of all Tinerfeños for many years,” she assessed. The works are valued at €12.2 million.
Within the Tourism sector, the tender for the stabilization works of embankments on Virgen de Candelaria street in Alcalá, Guía de Isora, was approved. The tender budget is €743,829, and the works have an execution period of eight months. Additionally, the contract was awarded to the company Beta Group Services SAS Branch in Spain for an amount of €165,740 and a timeframe of 16 months. The service contract for evaluating compliance with the Sustainability Charter of nature tourism activities and cetacean watching by adhering companies, through surveys and the so-called mystery shopper who takes note of observations without warning and then issues reports.
Sanitation
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The actions in the sanitation network on the coast of Candelaria Phase I, included in the 2018-2021 Insular Cooperation Plan, were awarded to the company Canaragua Concessions for €837,967 and a period of 10 months.
Sports
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The bases and the call for subsidies aimed at recognising sports achievements obtained by Tinerife athletes in Championships of Spain, Europe, and the World during 2023 were approved for a total amount of €200,000.
Reading
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The tender for the service of the Insular Reading Animation Programme of Tenerife (Pialte) was ratified for an amount of €374,000. Its goal is to carry out specific reading animation activities in as many educational centres on the Island as possible.
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The Government Council, within the area of Social Action, approved the Insular Citizen Participation Strategy of the Tenerife Island Council 2024-2027. The perspective is to strengthen it at all levels of the island’s society, adapting to the new social reality.
Psychologists
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Within the Security and Emergencies area, the framework agreement signed with the Official College of Psychology in civil protection matters for the Island was extended. This includes psychological assistance to directly affected individuals or others in close proximity. In addition, this healthcare service also includes professionals from the Consortium of Firefighters and the Brifor Operative staff.
Industry
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The Island Council will allocate 500,000 Euros, which can be increased by an additional 100,000 Euros, to promote industrial activity among young people. This is an innovative initiative (the first of several grants) to boost economic development and innovation in the sector. Lope Afonso referred to this strategy as “a model that pursues sustainability in the development of our Island.” The maximum amount per project is 30,000 Euros.
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Primary Sector
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A new call for entries for the Agrojoven Business Projects Awards was announced yesterday. The proposal aims to “promote the professionalization and involvement of young people in the primary sector, as well as contribute to generational turnover and mitigate the negative consequences of the abandonment of agricultural land.” The ongoing competition will award prizes of 5,000, 4,000, and 3,000 Euros for the first, second, and third place respectively. Additionally, the call includes the Agrojoven Business Idea Award category for projects that have not yet started, with four awards of 600 Euros each.
