One of the most crucial actions needed at the marina and fishing port of Garachico is the construction of an access roundabout, which has been pending for over seven years waiting for the authorities to make a decision. The mayor, José Heriberto González, acknowledges that this is a major issue that the facility has been facing since its inauguration on 12 May 2012. “It started operating with this significant flaw, which we witness daily. Vehicles enter and exit in a hazardous manner due to lack of visibility,” he explains.
The roundabout, outlined in the General Development Plan (PGO) of Garachico, is planned to be situated approximately 200 meters before the current entrance, at El Majuelo street, linking to the historical centre. The concept is to have traffic diverted from that point towards the harbour and the town through the mentioned road, and towards the seafront avenue (TF-42). This proposal is part of an alternatives study from 2017, leaving only the drafting and execution of the project pending. “There were doubts regarding which authority had jurisdiction, whether it was Puertos Canarios or the Government itself under the Ministry of Public Works, but this work needs to be carried out,” he further explains.
“Garachico experiences a congestion of vehicles every weekend heading towards Isla Baja, causing disruptions in all the town’s accesses. A roundabout would eliminate lane crossings, providing direct access to the port and reducing traffic jams, a problem that could be avoided,” González expresses optimism that the project drafting will commence this year. “Being the only port in the north, having proper access would have positive impacts across the region,” he emphasises.
