The two significant construction projects vital for addressing the severe mobility challenges that Tenerife has endured for decades—the Las Chafiras-Oroteanda connections and the Erjos tunnel—are projected to be completed later than anticipated, according to the latest estimates from the Government of the Canary Islands. The San Miguel de Abona infrastructure is expected to be delayed by four years, while the road under the Teno massif, linking the north and south of the island, faces a delay of three years and four months. This timeline is far removed from the original deadlines set when the projects were awarded to construction firms via public tenders.
Specifically, for the dual Erjos tunnel, which has the largest budget within the highway agreement (a total of 241 million euros, with an additional 22.2 million euros due to price adjustments), the timeframe for completion was established at 48 months from the beginning of earthworks on November 25, 2019 (two weeks prior to the signing of the staking document). If the latest update from the Government of the Canary Islands is adhered to, the project will now take 88 months, pushing back the expected opening for vehicle access until March 2027. This reflects a delay of three years and four months.
An even longer delay is anticipated for the other significant project in the southern area, the Las Chafiras and Oroteanda connections (with the latter already operational), which are part of the third lane of the TF-1 motorway between San Isidro and Playa de Las Américas. The approval for the start of construction was granted on November 26, 2018, with a projected completion period of 30 months, meaning it should have wrapped up by May 2021. Should the revised deadline established by the Department of Public Works be met, the project is now expected to finish in May 2025. Hence, the total time required for its completion will be 78 months, resulting in a delay of four years.
Numerous factors have contributed to the slow progress of the two routes. Regarding the dual Erjos tunnel, which spans over 5 kilometres, elements such as the pandemic, two price reviews, and notably, a ruling by the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands have had an impact. This ruling, issued in March this year, annulled the awarding of this mega-project to the Temporary Union of Companies FCC Construction, Syocsa-Inarsa, and El Silbo. Given the advanced stage of work, the Government of the Canary Islands had to negotiate compensation, amounting to 13.7 million euros, to the consortium of OHL, Excavaciones Bahíllo, and Asfaltos Bahíllo, which, according to the court’s resolution, should not have been excluded from the public tender after being the initial winner.
For the Las Chafiras and Oroteanda roundabouts, awarded for nearly 22 million euros to the joint venture of Ferrovial Agroman, Ten Asfaltos, and Excavaciones Óscar del Castillo, multiple factors, beyond the pandemic, have played a role. Notably, the unexpected discovery of a native beetle necessitated the manual removal of specimens, alongside challenges in relocating the medium voltage power line supplying Llano del Camel.
On November 13, the exit branch to Oroteanda was opened for traffic, rendering this link fully operational and allowing movement in both directions towards Playa de Las Américas and Santa Cruz.
