Tenerife Council Pledges €650,000 to Repair Garachico Roads Damaged by Traffic Diversions

The Tenerife Island Council has pledged 650,000 euros to repair urban roads in Garachico, marking a major shift in how the island manages its infrastructure. This funding is the first official acknowledgment that the island is responsible for the damage caused to the town’s historic center whenever high tides force traffic off the TF-42 highway and through local streets.

The agreement, passed unanimously, follows years of requests from the local government. Mayor Heriberto González explained that the town has been under immense pressure, as it must accommodate heavy vehicles and public transport to prevent the Isla Baja region from being cut off. The money will cover repaving key areas, including Calle Esteban de Ponte, the streets around the Santa Ana church, and the Plaza de Abajo, as well as asphalt repairs on strategic routes like San Sebastián and Eutropio Rodríguez de la Sierra. The bidding process for these repairs is set to begin within two months.

In addition to these road repairs, Garachico will receive a 400,000-euro grant from the Canary Islands Government’s Directorate General for Cultural Heritage. This project will focus on improving pedestrian access by replacing concrete with high-quality natural stone that better suits the town's historic character.

Technical plans for these improvements are currently being drafted to determine which areas should be prioritized. The City Council aims to complete the renovations by August 2027, in time for the San Roque pilgrimage. By combining island funding for traffic-related wear and regional grants for heritage conservation, the project aims to balance the needs of a protected historic site with the necessity of maintaining vital road links during bad weather.