Santa Cruz Residents Demand Urgent Action Over Dangerous Zurita Bridge Pedestrian Access
Residents of Santa Cruz de Tenerife are demanding urgent action to address a dangerous lack of sidewalk space near the Zurita bridge, as administrative delays threaten to stall safety improvements for pedestrians.
Road safety near the Zurita bridge in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has become a major source of tension between local authorities and residents of the Salamanca-Uruguay and Las Acacias neighborhoods. For two decades, the layout of Avenida Islas Canarias has forced pedestrians to walk in the road because there is no proper sidewalk. This is particularly dangerous for wheelchair users and families with strollers.
The problem stems from a privately owned wall that blocks the sidewalk from being widened. Residents have urged the Tenerife Island Council, the tram operator Metropolitano, and the City Council to act, arguing that the situation is a long-standing emergency. They have proposed a practical solution: setting the wall back to create enough space for a safe path, rather than waiting for a lengthy, full-scale urban redevelopment project.
Zaida González, from the Department of Urban Planning, confirmed that a solution is tied to the "UA-SP.4" action unit. This plan, which began processing on February 27, includes widening the sidewalks on Avenida Islas Canarias, opening the Padilla alley, and building a public square with parking near the Santos ravine.
However, there is a clear disconnect between administrative plans and the daily reality on the ground. While the City Council says the improvement process has started, residents fear that the complex bureaucracy involved in land redistribution will delay a fix for a problem they consider urgent. For now, the city has ruled out any construction this year, leaving a dangerous intersection where traffic, the tram, and pedestrians collide in a state of uncertainty.