Tenerife Reaches Key Milestone in Padre Anchieta Footbridge Project
The installation of a new staircase marks a key milestone in the 12-million-euro Padre Anchieta footbridge project, which aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve pedestrian safety at a major Tenerife road junction.
Traffic in the Tenerife metropolitan area is set for a major improvement as work progresses on the new Padre Anchieta footbridge. Designed to ease one of the island’s most congested road junctions, the project reached a key milestone this week with the installation of a ten-ton, ten-meter-long staircase. This piece completes the vital connection between the La Laguna transport interchange and the new elevated walkway.
The 12-million-euro project is about more than just construction; it is a necessary solution for the Padre Anchieta roundabout, a major bottleneck on the TF-5 highway where over 50,000 vehicles pass through every day. Installing the new structure was a complex task, requiring precise technical adjustments to ensure the staircase was perfectly positioned over such a busy road.
Beyond managing vehicle traffic, the footbridge addresses a long-standing safety concern. The area is used by 20,000 pedestrians daily, many of whom are university students. Currently, people must navigate up to a dozen crosswalks, which creates constant conflict between foot traffic and cars, increasing the risk of accidents.
Dámaso Arteaga, the Island Councilor for Roads, confirmed that the project is now in its final stages. By separating pedestrians from vehicles, the Island Council expects to significantly reduce traffic jams and make it much easier and safer for students and residents to move between the university campus and the city center.