The excavation of the Erjos tunnel, a crucial piece of infrastructure for the island’s ring road, has been finalised. This segment will link the towns of El Tanque and Santiago del Teide, thereby connecting the North and South of the island and alleviating congestion on the heavily used TF-5 highway, thus enhancing island mobility. The completion of the construction is anticipated in the first quarter of 2027.
The regional councilor for Public Works, Housing and Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez, along with the general director of Road Infrastructure, Rosana Melián, oversaw the conclusion of the excavation, accompanied by Rosa Dávila, the president of the Tenerife Cabildo; Carmen Luz Baso, the mayor of Los Silos; Jennifer Rosales, the first deputy mayor and councilor for Works and Services of El Tanque; and Ibrahim Forte, the Councilor for Citizen Security, Police, Mobility, and Accessibility of Santiago del Teide.
Pablo Rodríguez elaborated that the Government of the Canary Islands “remains committed to progressing with this infrastructure, adhering to deadlines and aligning with the proposed costs.”
The project has necessitated an investment exceeding 263 million euros, combining the initial budget of 241,470,628 euros with 22,242,877 euros in price adjustments paid last year. To date, the Temporary Union of Companies (UTE), comprising FCC Construction, Syocsa-Inarsa, and El Silbo, has utilised 62% of the allocated budget. Presently, the construction creates 35 direct jobs and 80 indirect jobs across three shifts each day, seven days a week, as reported by the Government.
Construction of the Erjos tunnel commenced in 2019, and its excavation has presented significant technical challenges due to unexpected geological conditions and the emergence of soft materials that were not anticipated in the original plan. According to the Department of Public Works, this has been the principal hurdle faced by the project, resulting in a delay of over two years relative to the initial schedule. During a 2023 visit to the site, when the work was 80% complete, former President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, stated that his administration expected “the tunnel to open in 2025.”
At a total length of 5.1 kilometres, the Erjos tunnel is now the longest in the Canary Islands, ranking third in Spain (behind the Manzanares tunnel on the M-30, which spans 5,973 metres, and the Viella tunnel in Lleida, measuring 5,260 metres) and has established itself as the largest twin-tube interurban tunnel in Spain. Each tube extends 5,095 metres, with 4,855 metres excavated through mining, complemented by sections of a false tunnel at both the northern and southern access points. The project includes 19 interconnection galleries situated every 250 metres to facilitate future emergency access for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Mobility
Once operational, the tunnel is expected to provide “an estimated 50% reduction in travel time between the north and south.” It is projected that traversing the tunnel will take approximately four minutes, with a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h set within.
According to Rosa Dávila, “the advancement in this project signifies a vital leap for connectivity and sustainable mobility in Tenerife. Residents from the lower island will be able to work in the South while still residing in the northern areas. This marks a transformative change in mobility, the economy, and the enhancement of the quality of life for the people of Tenerife.”
The construction of this tunnel has necessitated the introduction of sustainability measures to safeguard the environment. An investment of 18 million euros has been allocated for environmental initiatives, which include the restoration of former quarries in Grama and Bilma mountains, as well as the establishment of flatlands and the production of concrete and asphalt using surplus materials from the excavation.
