The construction of the Tenerife ring road has increased by €21.5 million due to environmental improvements to the tunnel.
The cost of building the island ring road section between Santiago del Teide and El Tanque has increased by 21.5 million euros due to environmental improvements and legal disputes, with the project expected to be completed in 2027.
Almost €21.5 million more has been allocated to the construction of the section of the Island Ring Road between Santiago del Teide and El Tanque. This is due to improvements in the Erjos tunnel to make it more environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and safe. The total cost of the project now exceeds €302.6 million. This is €61.1 million more than initially planned (€241.5 million). Since work began in 2019, the price has been revised three times: in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In addition, the government paid €13.7 million in compensation to UTE OHL by court order.
"Modern environmental solutions" have been added to the project. For example, a solar power plant will be built above the tunnel entrance, providing 16% of the tunnel's electricity needs. New technologies will also be used in ventilation, lighting, communication, and tunnel management.
It turns out that each kilometer of this road section (which is 11.3 kilometers long) costs €26.7 million. Of these, €5.1 million is for the Erjos tunnel, which is the third-longest in the country. Importantly, the tunnel will have only two lanes of traffic in each direction.
Construction was originally scheduled to be completed in 2019, but due to various problems, the deadlines were postponed. Now they promise to open the road in the first quarter of 2027.
The delay was influenced by COVID-19 and problems with the supply of materials. Also, in March last year, the court overturned the decision to select UTE FCC, which is currently building the road. The reason was a violation in the selection of the contractor. To resolve this issue, OHL was paid €13.7 million in compensation.
The project is officially called "Update of the construction project: new section El Tanque - Santiago del Teide." But for the road to function fully, the section between San Juan de la Rambla and Icod de los Vinos still needs to be completed. This is the most difficult part of the project, as the road will pass through protected areas.
The cost of building the Island Ring Road has increased due to litigation. In 2019, the government selected UTE OHL, but then changed its mind and awarded the project to UTE FCC. OHL sued and won the case. Now the government has to pay OHL compensation, but work continues and is being carried out by FCC.
FCC, El Silbo, and Syocsa-Inarsa are jointly building the El Tanque - Santiago del Teide section. This road will connect the northern and southern parts of the island, as well as the TF-1 and TF-5 highways.
The new road will have a speed limit of up to 80 kilometers per hour. It will have two lanes of traffic, each 3.50 meters wide. In the tunnel, the lanes will be double. There will also be shoulders 2.50 meters wide. The road will include two interchanges, a viaduct, an artificial tunnel, four lower and two upper crossings, and a pedestrian bridge. Half of the road will be in tunnels.
The 5.1-kilometer Erjos tunnel will bypass the Teno Natural Park and the town of Erjos without affecting them. The southern exit of the tunnel is located in the valley of Santiago del Teide. From there, the road will bypass the town and connect to the southern section of the Island Ring Road, which leads to Adeje.