Tenerife PSOE Accuses Cabildo of Stalling TF-21 Pedestrian Safety Project
The Tenerife PSOE has accused the Island Council of failing to initiate any technical or environmental studies for a unanimously approved pedestrian bridge project on the TF-21 road.
Political gridlock over road infrastructure is back in the spotlight. The Tenerife PSOE has accused the Island Council (Cabildo) of stalling a project to create safe pedestrian access on the TF-21, the road connecting Cuesta de la Villa in Santa Úrsula with the Las Cuevas area in La Orotava. Although the Council unanimously approved the plan in March 2025, documents provided to the socialists this April show that no technical, economic, or environmental reports have been started.
The project began on February 25, 2025, when the La Orotava City Council—following a motion from the local socialist group—voted to urge the Cabildo to address the dangers of the route. The proposal suggests installing a suspension footbridge, similar to those used in Masca or Icod el Alto, to protect pedestrians on a busy road that currently lacks shoulders.
Tamara Raya, leader of the island’s PSOE, has criticized the Cabildo for failing to act on agreements made in plenary sessions. María Jesús Alonso, the socialist spokesperson in La Orotava, clarified that they are not asking for immediate construction, but for the necessary feasibility studies to ensure pedestrian safety. The socialists argue that a footbridge would be easy to build and have little visual impact, unlike a 2003 proposal that was scrapped due to complicated land expropriations.
This situation highlights a growing gap between political promises and actual progress. The lack of action not only ignores a long-standing request from local residents but also leaves a dangerous stretch of road where pedestrians are forced to walk without any safety measures. The socialist group describes this delay as part of a wider pattern of inaction that continues to hinder basic mobility improvements across the island.