La Laguna Market Project: Ravine Channeling Nears Deep Excavation

La Laguna, Tenerife, is getting closer to a major step in bringing back its Municipal Market to the historic Plaza del Adelantado, according to local government information. The important engineering work to channel the La Carnicería ravine is almost done with its foundation stage. This means the main digging can start soon, which will be a clear and crucial step for the market's future home.

So far, workers have been strengthening the ravine's sides and putting in underground support piles. This work has mostly been hidden from public view. But that will change in about two months when they start digging out 20,000 cubic meters of material. This excavation will go down about 15 meters, which is as deep as a five-story building. This stage will finish with the building of a 4,000 cubic meter concrete box.

Heavy rain in recent months has slowed things down, but the project is now nearing its halfway mark. Costing 9.5 million euros, this is one of the main projects the La Laguna city council is pushing forward during its current term. Its importance goes beyond just building a new market; it also adds vital water infrastructure to help prevent city flooding.

Technical studies show that once this work is done, the La Carnicería ravine will be able to handle water flows expected only once every 500 years. The project has received positive reviews from the Hydraulic Infrastructure and Hydraulic Resources departments of the Tenerife Island Water Council (CIATF). Local officials have stressed that this is a very complex engineering project because the ground conditions require special foundation techniques.

This channeling is needed because the ravine currently flows under the site planned for the new La Laguna Market. This site will not only have the new market building but also an underground car park and a new public square. So, it was crucial to change the ravine's path in the section between Camino de San Roque and the Palace of Justice.

At the same time, the San Cristóbal de La Laguna City Council is moving ahead with the process to find a company to design the market project. Key requirements for the design include modern, practical facilities that meet traders' needs, and a design that fits well with the historic Plaza del Adelantado, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Work on the La Carnicería ravine officially began on January 29, 2025, eighteen years after the market was moved.

The La Laguna Municipal Market is currently operating in the Plaza del Cristo. It moved there in 2007 after its previous location closed due to structural issues. Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez said the project has been a priority since 2019. He noted that many technical challenges have been overcome, including the need for this channeling work to meet the requirements of the Tenerife Island Water Council. The Local Government Board approved hiring for the construction management and design of the ravine's channeling in July 2021, with final approval coming in March 2023.