The president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, stated this Wednesday that the proposal to close the TF-5 near Guamasa to ease traffic is still being considered, although she acknowledged that the process is proving to be more “complex” than initially anticipated.
During a press briefing to discuss the decisions made by the Government Council, she emphasised that the report from the General Directorate of Traffic indicated that if a series of supplementary works were performed, traffic could be “alleviated.” This task has fallen to the Road Service of the Cabildo.
Consequently, although it was expected to be a “simpler” process – in fact, the Cabildo’s original forecast was to initiate the closure before the year’s end – it has now become clear that “projects, works, and adjudications, along with the full administrative procedure” need to be undertaken, in addition to incorporating a new link near Los Rodeos.
Nevertheless, she affirmed that the plan to create two exit lanes for drivers departing from Ortigal and Guamasa “remains on track” to enhance “flow,” but a “more extensive intervention” than originally intended is required.
When asked about the postponement of the closure of the island ring to the west of Tenerife, acknowledged by the Minister of Public Works of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pablo Rodríguez, during parliamentary discussions, she attributed it to the process of awarding contracts managed by the previous autonomous administration, which resulted in a legal challenge from one of the competing consortiums.
She mentioned that the Cabildo and the Ministry hold regular meetings to “oversee” the progress of the works on the island, ensuring that “no delays or setbacks occur” and that they are also responsive to the “demands” that arise.
As an example, she cited the situation concerning Las Chafiras, where the connections are expected to be finished in November, and where, in conjunction with the private sector, efforts are being made on minor actions to minimise the impact of the works, ensuring the “least disruption” to the local industries and businesses.
Dávila also pointed out that on other occasions the Cabildo “takes the initiative,” as demonstrated by some developments on the accesses to the Güímar industrial estate, which have resolved a “long-standing issue” in less than a year for the 48,000 vehicles that traverse this area daily.
