Santa Cruz de Tenerife Approves €3.13 Million Transformation of Nuestra Señora de África Market Area

The area surrounding the Nuestra Señora de África Market in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set for a major transformation, with the city council officially approving the final plans. The project, which has a budget of 3.13 million euros, aims to improve how people move through the area and make better use of public space. Work will be carried out in two nine-month stages.

Following a popular trend in Spanish urban planning, the project focuses on creating flat, pedestrian-friendly surfaces to calm traffic. Led by Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez’s team, the plan includes removing architectural barriers and replacing the current rear staircase with an accessible, landscaped ramp. The intersection of Darias y Padrón and Bethencourt y Molina streets will be turned into a multifunctional plaza, restricting vehicle access to create a space for community events.

Carlos Tarife, head of the Public Services department, noted that the project is designed to modernize the area while keeping local businesses running smoothly. The first phase will focus on the area immediately around the market, ensuring that deliveries and resident access remain uninterrupted. The second phase will then move to Avenida José Manuel Guimerá, covering the boulevard and parking areas. To speed up the process, the council plans to overlap parts of the two phases.

In addition to these visual and functional changes, the project includes a complete overhaul of underground infrastructure, such as drainage and sanitation, as well as updated public lighting. For safety, anti-terrorism bollards will be installed at pedestrian entrances. While electrical connections for events will be upgraded, the work will remain focused on the immediate needs of the market area rather than broader utility networks.