Tenerife Proposes Spain’s Longest Tunnel to Solve Northern Traffic Crisis
The Canary Islands government has proposed a 600-million-euro, seven-kilometer tunnel between La Guancha and Los Realejos to alleviate chronic congestion on Tenerife’s TF-5 highway and complete the island's road ring.
Tenerife is facing a major mobility challenge, and the regional government has proposed a bold solution to complete the island’s road ring. According to El Día, officials are planning a seven-kilometer twin-tube tunnel to connect La Guancha and Los Realejos.
Estimated to cost 600 million euros, this project is designed to bypass the northern corridor while protecting environmentally sensitive areas like Tigaiga and Barranco Ruiz. If completed, the tunnel would span two kilometers longer than the Erjos tunnel—currently under construction—making it the longest underground passage in Spain.
The Vice-Ministry of Infrastructure, led by Francis González, has officially scrapped plans for an open-air road in San Juan de la Rambla. That previous proposal faced heavy opposition from local residents, and this new underground route revives a plan that had been stalled for over 20 years.
However, the project’s future depends on securing funding. The Canary Islands government has stated that the drafting phase cannot begin until a new road agreement is signed with the State to ensure the necessary budget. In the meantime, officials are meeting with local municipalities and community groups to discuss the technical details and address environmental concerns.
The project is a response to the chronic congestion of the TF-5 highway. With roughly 35,000 vehicles passing through the San Juan de la Rambla area daily, the current road is prone to landslides and frequent closures, threatening the island's connectivity. Officials also warn that once the Erjos tunnel opens, traffic pressure in the north will only increase, making a reliable alternative route essential.
While there is no set timeline for construction, the regional government is focused on completing the preliminary studies now so that the project can move forward quickly once funding is secured. This tunnel is seen as a vital step toward closing the island’s road ring and addressing a long-standing infrastructure gap that has hindered the development of northern Tenerife.