Los Cristianos is awaiting a large-scale reconstruction: transport, infrastructure, tourism

In the 1980s, Los Cristianos became one of the main tourist centers in the south of Tenerife and the entire island.

At that time, infrastructure was actively built, and the port and tourism business developed. But since then, there have been no large-scale updates in this coastal area of Arona to match the growth of the population, the amount of transport, and the influx of tourists.

And now, after 40 years, Los Cristianos is awaiting a complete transformation that should change its appearance over the next decade.

Many changes are planned in this coastal corner of Arona: reorganization of the city center, improvement of traffic flow, and renovation of public spaces.

These are not just individual projects, but an entire plan that the authorities call a "comprehensive and integrated approach."

Pedro Suárez, head of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority, says: "It seemed logical that a comprehensive approach was needed. This is a joint decision."

The impetus for the changes was the El Mojón partial plan. After 30 years of delays, the municipality of Arona managed to unlock the largest plot of land in the Canary Islands that was waiting for development.

It is planned to build 8,900 places for tourists in four hotels, as well as housing, various public spaces, and parks.

Javier Baute, Councilor for Urban Planning, considers this a historic opportunity for the municipality: "Large and important infrastructure facilities are planned that will meet the needs of Arona residents."

The development of El Mojón will increase the number of places to stay, which will force a review and update of the transport system and access roads to Los Cristianos.

And this is where other major projects come into play.

Los Cristianos, with a population of over 20,000 and a constant influx of tourists, has been experiencing traffic jams for years, especially on Chayofita Avenue and Juan Carlos I Avenue.

The Abona and Southwest regions alone account for 25% of all movements on the island, and 70% of them are internal. These figures show that it is urgent to reorganize and improve access to and from one of the busiest areas in the south of Tenerife.

To solve this problem, the Cabildo of Tenerife and the Government of the Canary Islands are working on two important projects. The first is a tunnel under Chayofita Avenue, which will transform the current entrance into an underground section from the sports center to the junction with Juan Carlos I Avenue.

It is also planned to extend the tunnel on Juan Carlos I Avenue itself to connect it with new parks and the highway. This project has not yet been in the spotlight, but it is now being finalized and will be put out for public discussion.

The design of this infrastructure will be similar to 3 de Mayo Avenue in Santa Cruz, with a gradual slope to avoid steep climbs and ensure convenient and safe integration.

"We want the tunnel to be as long as possible and really help relieve Los Cristianos of traffic jams. The Government of the Canary Islands has already supported this proposal," says Baute.

It is planned that the tunnel will reach Alabastro Street, but will not reach the TF-1 ring road due to "technical limitations," according to the Councilor for Transport of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Eulalia García.

Both projects have a common goal: without relieving ground traffic, Los Cristianos will not be able to cope with the increase in traffic in the future.

The transport development plans also include the Southern Train, a project that has been talked about for a long time. Recently, the Government of the Canary Islands signed an agreement on public funding for this project worth 2.5 billion euros, which was an important step forward.

The first phase, which is a priority, will cover the section between Costa Adeje and San Isidro. One of the main stations will be located in Los Cristianos.

To integrate the project, the Cabildo also plans to build a new transport interchange on Chayofita Avenue, which will replace the current bus stop, which is already outdated and does not meet modern needs.

The complex, with an area of over 8,000 square meters, will have an underground parking lot for 200 cars, 18 platforms for buses, and a service building. Most importantly, it will leave space for connection to the future railway station. The project has already been developed, as has the project for the tunnel under Chayofita Avenue.

According to Suárez, "experts are studying all these works so that they complement each other. Otherwise, one project will interfere with another."

The port of Los Cristianos, through which people arrive and depart to La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro, receives thousands of vehicles and passengers every day. Congested access roads to the port are one of the city's main problems.

The port authority is working on a reconstruction project that includes a new terminal, an underground entrance, and two floors of parking.

Another important project is a tunnel that will connect the port directly to Chayofita Avenue. A feasibility study is currently underway for the construction of a geological tunnel under Mount Chayofita, which will open a new transport corridor to the TF-1 from the port.

All of this is intended to direct port traffic without overloading local roads.

"One way or another, Los Cristianos has grown chaotically. Now you need to think about transport links first, otherwise the development of other infrastructures and areas will stop," says Suárez.

In addition to transport, Los Cristianos will also see changes on the waterfront. The Las Vistas promenade will be completely reconstructed from 2026. If there are no changes, this will be the first project to be implemented.

The Cabildo states that this is an event "aimed at renovating the public space and increasing its attractiveness for tourists and locals."

These works complete a plan that should not only solve problems, but also improve the lives of residents and the experiences of visitors in a place that strives to become the economic center of Tenerife.

All projects are progressing in parallel, although at different stages. Some are in the preliminary study stage, others are out to tender, and a few are ready to start work.

Due to the different deadlines, there is uncertainty as to whether the projects will be implemented simultaneously, as well as the inconvenience and impact on the daily lives of Los Cristianos residents.

"It is clear that there are different speeds. Regarding the municipality and the development of El Mojón, I don't know if any of the works will coincide with our project," says Baute. "The partial plan was approved in 1996, and it was a long process. Each initiative will have its own rhythm."

Despite the different deadlines, the relevant authorities assure that they maintain "constant contact" and hold regular meetings, which they call "useful."

It seems obvious that Los Cristianos is awaiting the biggest transformation since it became a popular tourist destination.

The authorities agree that the transformation cannot take place in parts.

"These are projects initiated by different authorities, but they complement each other," emphasizes Suárez. "The main thing is that, taken together, they allow the reorganization and development of the center."