Santa Cruz Council Set to Approve €80M Port Transformation

Santa Cruz City Council is set to approve a major agreement this Friday. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez has spearheaded this deal, which involves the Port Authority, the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife), and the Canary Islands Government's Ministry of Public Works. The agreement outlines an €80 million investment to redesign the Muelle de Enlace (Link Dock). This project will transform the area into a new cruise and ferry terminal, complete with shops, restaurants, and pedestrian walkways on its upper level, giving the city a fresh look, the mayor announced.

Mayor Bermúdez emphasized that integrating the Muelle de Enlace with the city has been a long-standing goal for Santa Cruz. This ambition first gained traction in 1991 with the creation of a Port-City Commission, involving the City Council and the State Ports Board. Later, in December 1997, the Port Authority held an international competition for ideas to develop the area, aiming to naturally extend the city and reconnect its residents with the sea.

The mayor noted that the architectural firm Herzog & De Meuron Architekten won this competition in July 1998. They worked on the project design from 1999 to 2004, with input from various levels of government. Alongside this, from 1997 to 2014, significant urban planning efforts for the Muelle de Enlace took place, culminating in the approval of a Special Port Plan.

Councillor for Infrastructure, Javier Rivero, stated that Friday's approval marks a "historic step" for Santa Cruz. He expects the agreement to completely transform the Muelle de Enlace into a large, modern, and people-friendly space open to the sea. This €80 million joint investment, involving the Tenerife Island Council, the Canary Islands Government, and the Port Authority, will finally bring to life a project that has been crucial for the city's development for over two decades.

Rivero emphasized that this is a unique chance to connect the city with its port, a long-cherished dream for Santa Cruz. The project will not only update the port but also introduce elevated pedestrian walkways, cultural and leisure areas, viewpoints, and new shops and restaurants for everyone to enjoy. He concluded that, for the first time, residents will have access to a special area with stunning views, easily reachable and linked to Plaza de España, extending the city's core.

The project also features a new, more efficient, and modern terminal for cruise ships and inter-island ferries. This will improve services for both tourists and local transport, providing a significant economic boost by creating jobs, attracting investment, and increasing business activity in central Santa Cruz.

To fund this transformation, the various government bodies are sharing the €80 million investment as follows: The Canary Islands Government will cover 40% (€32 million), the Tenerife Island Council will contribute 30% (€24 million), Santa Cruz City Council will provide 20% (€16 million), and the Port Authority will contribute 10% (€8 million).

Once all parties approve their share of the agreement, the Port Authority will start the process of hiring for the project's design, technical oversight, and construction. A crucial part of the deal is that the City Council will manage the public areas of the port, ensuring they are clean, well-maintained, and secure, while also generating revenue for the council. This means Santa Cruz will gain not just new spaces, but also a well-kept waterfront designed for city living.