Tenerife Business Leaders Urge Action Over Stalled TF-1 Motorway Expansion
Business leaders in southern Tenerife are demanding urgent action on the long-delayed expansion of the TF-1 motorway, warning that administrative inaction is stifling the region's economic competitiveness.
Delays in expanding the TF-1 motorway have once again highlighted the gap between southern Tenerife’s rapid population growth and its aging infrastructure. The Circle of Entrepreneurs and Professionals of the South of Tenerife (CEST) warns that the lack of a clear timeline for the third lane between Oroteanda and Las Américas is causing frustration, with local businesses fearing the silence is damaging the region’s competitiveness.
Although the regional government approved the 175.48-million-euro project in November 2025, no progress has been made on the tendering process in the seven months since. The project is intended to take 42 months to complete and is a key part of the plan to ease traffic congestion between San Isidro and Las Américas. Javier Cabrera, president of the employers' association, has described the ongoing delay as a "structural emergency."
The gridlock on this route is not only disrupting logistics and freight transport but is also lowering the quality of life for a population that has grown significantly over the last decade. Business leaders argue that the current road network is no longer capable of supporting the region, which serves as the island's primary tourism and economic hub.
The CEST’s concerns reflect a broader issue in the Canary Islands: the disconnect between planning and actual construction. While the government has set aside the necessary funding, the lack of a start date for the tender has created uncertainty. For the southern business community, resolving this bottleneck is vital to maintaining the region's economic health, and they are calling for faster administrative action to prevent further delays.