Every day, workers, students, seniors, youngsters, employers, tourists, and residents in the south of Tenerife endure the challenges of mobility issues. This ongoing problem, increasingly significant and a major concern for southerners, extends from San Isidro to Miraverde and sometimes beyond, affecting both directions and causing significant and escalating traffic jams.
This newspaper recently spoke to some of these traffic “sufferers”, many of whom feel that at times, being stuck in traffic can turn into a real ordeal. This sentiment is particularly strong during peak hours when commuting to work, dropping off children at school, heading to university, or returning home from work. These are the times of the day when southern residents feel like the “victims of the TF-1”, a frustration that has now spilled over onto other roads in the area.
The population growth over the past few decades, especially in municipalities like Arona, Adeje, Granadilla, and others, is a key factor contributing to this situation. For instance, the number of residents in Adeje surged from 14,007 to 47,869 between 2000 and 2019, marking a substantial 241% increase, as per data from the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC) sourced from the Municipal Register of Inhabitants.
This growth is largely attributed to the southern region’s status as a prominent tourist destination, with numerous hotels, apartments, and entertainment facilities drawing in visitors. The influx of tourists results in a higher volume of vehicles on the roads, comprising rental cars and buses.
However, a major contributor to the severe mobility issues is the road infrastructure, as many roads are ill-equipped to handle the current traffic volume. The TF-1 highway frequently experiences congestion during peak hours and the tourist seasons. Despite some completed projects and upcoming initiatives to alleviate this situation – including the much-awaited island ring project, burying the TF-1 between Las Américas and Miraverde, and revamping accesses to the Chafiras industrial estate – progress has been slow, with delays exacerbating traffic congestion issues.
Javier Cabrera, President of the Southern Business Circle, has been advocating for solutions to this problem based on his eight years of experience in the position. He emphasises that this issue impacts everyone, leading to dissatisfied employees, reduced work productivity, and a negative impact on morale.
“The traffic can be torturous at times, resulting in a diminished quality of life, increased anxiety, and tension, causing individuals to experience mood swings,” explains Cabrera, contrasting this reality with one of the island’s tourism slogans, portraying Tenerife as a place of nobility and kindness.
Cabrera also calls out the lack of proactive measures from authorities, highlighting the delayed projects such as the reform of the accesses to the Las Chafiras industrial estate. “Promised to complete within 30 months, it has now stretched to 66 months. We need action now,” he asserts.
“This Situation is Unsustainable”
Many affected citizens express discontent and frustration regarding the prevailing situation. Their concerns, tension, and feelings of helplessness are palpable. María Gallego, a Spanish Philology student commuting from Adeje to La Laguna every morning, voices her exhaustion and disappointment, having seen no tangible efforts from authorities over the years.
Similarly, Elena Bethencourt, a school teacher in the south, perceives the infrastructure as lacking and inadequate. Others, like Lieve Vercaemert, a hospitality entrepreneur, succinctly sums up the issue stating, “Too many people on too few roads.”
The majority of those interviewed place blame on the government and the tourism-centric model. Computer technician Carlos Javier Velázquez believes that politicians show little interest in resolving the problem. A Titsa bus driver, preferring anonymity, bemoans the futility of the situation, spending each day stuck in traffic. Hamid Maalouf points out the inadequacies of the public transport system, leading to increased traffic congestion. “Living in La Sabinita, it takes me two and a half hours to reach my hotel in Guía de Isora. This cannot go on like this,” he urges.
