Tenerife to Launch €66.4 Million TF-5 Expansion to Ease Traffic Congestion

Tenerife is set to undergo a major road upgrade with the addition of a third lane on the TF-5. The project, which will cost €66.4 million, aims to ease the heavy congestion between Guamasa and Los Rodeos airport, a route used by over 110,000 drivers daily, with peak traffic reaching nearly 4,500 vehicles per hour.

The four-kilometer project, stretching from kilometer 11 to 15, involves more than just widening the road. It includes redesigning the San Lázaro and Guamasa junctions and creating a direct access point to the airport. By separating traffic based on destination, the new layout will allow drivers coming from the north to bypass the junctions that currently cause the most significant delays. The regional government expects to award the contract next month, with work scheduled to begin before summer and take approximately 35 months to complete.

A key technical challenge is managing rainwater. Because the current drainage system cannot handle heavy downpours, the project will introduce underground storm tanks—a first for the Canary Islands. These tanks will collect and filter runoff to prevent flooding at critical spots like the Chamarta ravine, helping the road better withstand extreme weather.

The construction will require about 8,000 square meters of land, mostly owned by the public and the airport operator, Aena. While officials acknowledge the project will be disruptive, they have mandated that all existing lanes must remain open throughout construction to minimize traffic issues.

The project has sparked broader debate about island mobility. While the Canary Islands government and the Tenerife Cabildo view the third lane as an essential, immediate fix, the La Laguna City Council continues to call for more permanent solutions, such as burying the road through the city center or building a bypass. For now, the regional government is prioritizing this third lane while continuing to study other long-term options for the TF-1 and the wider metropolitan area. Officials maintain that this project is a vital step toward improving safety and traffic flow on one of the island's busiest routes.