Tenerife to Award Contract for TF-5 Motorway Expansion Amid Ongoing Traffic Debate

Traffic management in Tenerife is back in the spotlight following updates on road improvements in the north of the island. Officials announced that next week, the procurement board will provisionally award the contract to expand the TF-5 motorway between Guamasa and Tenerife North Airport. The regional government expects to finalize the contract before summer, allowing construction to begin shortly after.

Pablo Rodríguez, the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, confirmed that the original plans were adjusted to ensure they align with the future La Laguna bypass project. Despite the technical challenges, the Minister assured the public that traffic will continue to flow normally while the work is underway.

This project is part of a wider infrastructure plan. The government recently awarded contracts for a third lane on the same stretch of the TF-5 and for the Ofra-El Chorrillo road, with work expected to start soon. Additionally, plans are moving forward for a third lane on the TF-1 between San Isidro and Playa de las Américas.

However, the plan has faced political pushback. PSOE deputy Tamara Raya questioned whether reconfiguring lanes over a three-kilometer stretch will actually improve traffic at such a congested point. She also criticized the local government for failing to meet its campaign promises regarding road project deadlines.

The debate has also sparked a broader conversation about the island's transport model. Minister Rodríguez acknowledged that simply building more roads is not a permanent fix for traffic congestion, though he maintained that these specific upgrades are necessary for now. The parliamentary session also touched on other concerns, including the road connection to the port of Los Cristianos, as political groups continued to debate the best way to address the island's ongoing traffic crisis.