Official Gazette Confirms Land Purchase for TF-5 Third Lane

Plans to build a third lane on the Northern Highway (TF-5) have moved forward with the compulsory purchase of 8,000 square meters of land. This land, taken from seven properties owned by companies, individuals, and public bodies, was announced this Monday in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC). The new lane will cover a 3.6-kilometer section between Guamasa and Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport. It's seen as vital for easing traffic on this road, which currently handles about 110,000 vehicles every day, according to figures from the Tenerife Island Council.

The official document, signed by Rosa Ana Melián, the Director General of Road Infrastructure for the Canary Islands Government, highlights that 5,737 square meters are being taken from Spanish Airports (Aena). This represents 72% of Aena's urban land in the area, which has specific usage characteristics.

Five other plots, totaling 2,132 square meters, are being acquired from Explotaciones Industriales Los Rodeos SL. These include two warehouses (1,009 and 63 square meters), a 204-square-meter residential building, and undeveloped urban land plots measuring 370 and 477 square meters.

Finally, the list of properties needed for the project includes a 114-square-meter residential building owned by Herederos de Marcos García González.

The public now has twenty working days, starting from the document's publication in the BOC, to review it. During this period, individuals or companies can submit objections to correct any potential mistakes in the descriptions of the affected properties and rights. Parcel plans are available for review during business hours at the Island Council, La Laguna City Council, and the Directorate General of Road Infrastructure offices in the Usos Múltiples I building on Anaga Avenue in Santa Cruz.

The Governing Council of the Canary Islands approved the project on September 29. This work aims to improve travel and safety in one of the island's busiest areas. Pablo Rodríguez, the regional Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Mobility, praised the decision, stating it followed a thorough technical and administrative process that ensures the project is practical, safe, and sustainable.

The initial budget for the project is 66,401,344 euros. This funding comes from a cooperation agreement signed in 2017 between the Ministry and the Tenerife Island Council to improve the TF-5. Officials confirm that all necessary legal and technical steps have been taken since then, including positive reports on technical aspects, environmental impact, land acquisition, and health and safety. This ensures the work meets all current rules for construction, roads, cultural heritage, and waste management.

Adding a third lane to the TF-5 will ease traffic jams in one of the island's most congested areas. It will also make the road safer and improve traffic flow, particularly towards Santa Cruz, by increasing the road's capacity. The project includes strict quality checks and environmental safeguards to reduce its impact during construction and ensure it's environmentally sound. With final approval now in place, the next stage is to begin the contracting and bidding process for the work.

The construction will involve upgrading the road surface, drainage systems, and intersections. It also includes building five new structures, replacing any affected utilities, and putting in place environmental and road safety measures. Throughout the project, traffic will continue to flow, helping to maintain the efficiency of the northern metropolitan route.

Specifically, the project will adapt the TF-5 to add a third lane along a 3.6-kilometer stretch. This runs from the Guamasa junction (kilometer 15) to the San Lázaro interchange (kilometer 11.4), where the road already has three lanes heading towards Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The main goal is to improve traffic flow in this heavily used area and enhance safety on a part of the northern highway known for many accidents.

Rosa Dávila, President of the Island Council, emphasized that this is a crucial step in addressing a major public demand: improving the TF-5. She stated that the project's approval brings them closer to a vital upgrade that will cut travel times, boost road safety, and help connect different parts of the island.

However, Tamara Raya, the general secretary of the PSOE party in Tenerife, expressed concern. She said that today's news about the third lane confirms a "worrying reality": the work won't be put out to tender before the end of 2025, despite earlier promises from the ruling party. Raya also warned that this project makes it unlikely that the future La Laguna bypass – a route connecting Guamasa with Lora Tamayo – will ever be built. She argued it's improbable that a new third lane would be constructed only to be torn down later for the bypass. She added that this plan is merely a "patch" of just three kilometers, which could create more traffic problems instead of a full highway expansion.

Raya stated, "They repeatedly announced that the third lane was about to start, that everything was ready, and only minor steps remained." But, she noted, "today we are surprised to learn that this wasn't true, and the process is still at the land acquisition stage." She concluded that this means there isn't a final project, so the work cannot start within the timelines the island government had told the public.

Tamara Raya also highlighted that the Island Council's approach has failed to address another important promise for Tenerife: the expansion of the Southern Highway (TF-1) to three lanes. She said there's no progress or news to suggest this work will start soon, even though it's a critical piece of infrastructure. The Southern Highway carries over 100,000 vehicles daily and experiences constant traffic jams, impacting commuters, tourists, freight, and emergency services.

Dámaso Arteaga, the Minister of Roads for the Tenerife Island Council, welcomed the compulsory purchase of various plots, including those from private owners and Aena. He called it "one more step" towards making the third lane from Guamasa to Los Rodeos Airport a reality as soon as possible. He emphasized that this infrastructure will "undoubtedly improve access to the Metropolitan Area from the TF-5," adding, "we understand that it is a strategic work and all steps taken in this direction are positive."

Arteaga dismissed the PSOE's criticism that the current project prevents the construction of the La Laguna bypass, which would connect Guamasa to Lora Tamayo on the Ring Road. He clarified that the bypass project "has never been abandoned." However, he noted that it currently lacks approval from the Canary Islands Government and carries a very substantial budget of over 400 million euros. The minister explained, "it does not seem that we will see it in the short term, and I believe we need a strategy in that regard."

Dámaso Arteaga stressed that "solutions must come as soon as possible," regardless of whether the bypass is built, as "one work does not impede the other, and each has its own pace." He affirmed, "we have always talked about the third lane of the TF-5; that is not in question, and I would not give up the 'bypass.' In fact, if it overcomes the technical difficulties, I would be delighted." However, he concluded, "we must look at the short term, as soon as possible, and this third lane project can proceed."

Separately, the Canary Islands Government signed a third update to its 2018-2027 Road Agreement with the Spanish State at the end of September. This extends the agreement until 2030 and provides more flexibility in managing investments. The update guarantees that road projects across the Canary Islands will be completed, includes actions still pending from a 2006 agreement, and allows for leftover funds to be reallocated.

This updated agreement solidifies the progress of roadworks on all islands, ensures that projects already awarded will be finished, and prepares for the bidding of remaining projects before the year ends. It also removes a clause that previously stopped new updates from being signed, which strengthens planning for the medium and long term and sets the stage for the next Canary Islands-State Agreement.

As of 2025, the Canary Islands has received two payments totaling 73.3 million euros. This means over 43% of the work is complete, and more than 73% of the agreement's total budget has been committed. This update improves connectivity, safety, and travel across the islands, reinforcing the state's investment in the Canary Islands' transport infrastructure.