Tenerife Road Project Rejected Over Environmental Concerns; Demolition Proposed in Revised Plan

Tenerife Island Council's environment and heritage departments have rejected a road project for the TF-5 highway near La Rambla, which was proposed by the council's own roads department.

Dámaso Arteaga, the councilor for the area, told around 30 residents at a public meeting that the departments found the project would negatively impact the Ruiz ravine, a protected scientific site. They said the planned construction and road widening were not allowed.

The current road is considered unsafe for both drivers and pedestrians. A local resident was recently hit by a car while crossing the TF-5 to catch a bus to the University of La Laguna. During the meeting, another resident asked if "a piece of land is more important than someone's life?"

Faced with the departments' rejection, Arteaga suggested either abandoning the project or modifying it to find a different solution. Emilio Grande, who created the residents' preferred solution, and Leonardo Santamaría, head of the Island Council's Roads Department, presented nine alternative solutions to improve safety at the La Rambla intersection. They explained the pros and cons of each, focusing on how to avoid further objections. Solution number nine was considered the most viable.

According to them, this final proposal avoids impacting the Ruiz ravine scientific site by shifting the work about 10-12 meters towards the sea, away from the protected area. However, this option would require the demolition of two homes in Los Realejos, located on the right side of the road towards Icod de los Vinos. This proposal was met with disapproval from the residents.

This ninth solution involves building a roundabout lower than the current road, with the TF-5 becoming an overpass. Two off-ramps would connect to La Rambla in both directions. This would also address pedestrian safety and avoid the protected scientific site. However, it's an expensive option due to the need for retaining walls to support the road, and it would mean demolishing the two homes to build the off-ramp towards Icod de los Vinos.

Residents questioned the plans, suggested other solutions, and expressed concerns about the project's timeline. Dámaso Arteaga assured them that the project would take 18 months to complete. The plan also includes restoring the Ruiz ravine recreational park and surrounding areas.

Adela Abreu, spokesperson for the "Todos con La Rambla" group, expressed doubts about the approach taken by the council's technicians and councilor. She mentioned that the residents had previously presented a similar project designed by civil engineers, but it was rejected at the time. A rally planned for Sunday the 26th at the La Rambla intersection is now uncertain following the meeting.

While there's no guarantee that the environment and heritage departments will approve this alternative, the technicians said they had discussed the matter beforehand to find a solution that doesn't harm the Ruiz ravine scientific site.