This Wednesday, the Cabildo of Tenerife has reopened the TF-21 highway (La Orotava-Vilaflor) and the TF-38 highway (Chío), providing access to Teide National Park. However, the TF-24 highway (La Esperanza) will remain closed due to icy conditions on the road.
Crews from the island’s Highways department have been diligently working since yesterday to clear away snow and ice, according to the Cabildo.
Furthermore, they have had to clear multiple rocks resulting from landslides to ensure the roads remain safe for travel.
The president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, states, “the choice to close access to Teide during these days has consistently been made with public safety as our priority.”
While the snow-clad Teide is indeed a wonderful sight during Christmas, the road conditions, characterised by accumulated snow and patches of ice, “prevented us from ensuring safe passage,” she adds.
The workers have encountered challenging circumstances, as the drop in temperatures and the precipitation have created large sheets of ice, making travel to Teide extremely hazardous, the statement reveals.
Ice patches remain on TF-24, thus it will remain shut until it is deemed safe for travel once again.
