DGT Trials Smart Traffic Lights on Tenerife's TF-5
Spain's DGT and Tenerife's Cabildo are testing smart traffic lights at TF-5 entry points in Tenerife to alleviate chronic congestion, with up to 4 million euros allocated and a potential 2026 rollout.
Since last Monday, Spain's traffic authority, the DGT, has been testing smart traffic lights in Tenerife. They are looking at whether these lights could work at the entry points to the TF-5, one of the island's main roads. The idea came from the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife) to help solve the ongoing traffic problems on the TF-5. Up to 4 million euros has already been put aside for this project.
These technical tests are taking place at two particularly busy locations: the entrances to the Padre Anchieta roundabout in La Laguna, and the Guamasa interchange. José Miguel Ruano, the Second Vice President of the Cabildo, explained that the aim is to find out how much this new traffic light system could improve traffic flow on the TF-5 during rush hour. At these times, more than 100,000 vehicles travel daily between Tacoronte and the metropolitan area.
The Cabildo expects to receive a technical report from the DGT in Tenerife soon. This report will decide if the smart traffic lights are practical and how much they would actually help reduce congestion on the TF-5. If the assessment is positive, the Cabildo plans to start installing them, at least partly, throughout 2026. This was announced after a meeting of the island's Governing Council, which Vice President Lope Afonso also attended.
The Cabildo admits that the TF-5 has a fundamental traffic problem in Tenerife. This is due to a high number of vehicles per person and existing congestion, which has already been highlighted in the island's Sustainable Mobility Plan (currently being developed). Given this, they argue that any action that helps ease traffic on the TF-5 should be considered, even if it's not a permanent solution.
For this smart traffic light project on the TF-5, the Tenerife Island Council has set aside between 1.8 and 4 million euros. The final cost will depend on how the system is put in place and will always require DGT approval. Ruano added that the aim is to pinpoint the most effective locations on the TF-5 for these lights and, if the technical report is positive, to gradually roll them out during 2026.