Budget Shortfall Stalls TF-1 Motorway Expansion in Tenerife

Administrative delays have once again stalled the expansion of the TF-1 motorway between Oroteanda and Las Américas, highlighting the challenges of infrastructure planning in the Canary Islands. The project is currently on hold because the original budget, set at 175.4 million euros, is no longer realistic due to the rising cost of construction materials.

Under the Public Sector Contracts Act, the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility must update the budget to reflect current market prices. Failing to do so could lead to a failed tender process, which would indefinitely delay a vital project for a road that carries over 90,000 vehicles every day.

The project covers nearly ten kilometers and includes major upgrades to the Parque de la Reina, Guaza, Los Cristianos, and Las Américas interchanges. Plans also feature a third lane in each direction and the widening of the TF-28 to improve access to the Hospital del Sur. The regional government now considers this a strategic priority, especially with work on the northern TF-5 motorway progressing.

The uncertainty has caused frustration among local leaders and business groups. Fátima Lemes, the mayor of Arona, expressed concern over the historical lack of investment in the south, while San Miguel de Abona mayor Arturo González highlighted the difficulty of managing such complex projects. Javier Cabrera, representing the Circle of Entrepreneurs and Professionals of the South (CEST), attributed the delay to inflation, which has risen by 4.4% over the past year.

While the draft 2027 budget for the Canary Islands proposes increasing the project's funding from 8.4 to 10 million euros, the final timeline depends on the state’s Road Agreement, which runs until 2030. For now, the Ministry has not announced a start date for the tender, leaving this essential infrastructure project in limbo.