The entrance to Santa Cruz de Tenerife via the TF-5 is set for a significant upgrade in its transport infrastructure. The Cabildo de Tenerife has unlocked the project drafting phase, which will address one of the most critical points for public transport on the island: the direct connection between the North highway bus lane and the capital's Intercambiador.
The company Proyma Consultores has been awarded the contract, valued at 258,405 euros. Their mission will be to design an underpass that allows buses to bypass the traffic lights and intersections that currently hinder their access to the station, ensuring a fluid entry without interference from private traffic.
This infrastructure will focus on the area around Áurea Díaz Flores street, near the Meridiano Shopping Center. At this point, public transport flow encounters a “bottleneck” that penalizes travel times. With the underground passage, buses coming from the TF-5 bus lane will be able to enter the Intercambiador platforms directly.
“"This work is a strategic piece to make public transport a real and competitive alternative to the car."
The technical complexity of the work is high due to the dense traffic in the area. The Mobility Councilor has pointed out that the challenge is to design a solution that not only works for buses but also helps organize private traffic movements on the surface.
The technical study now beginning will analyze several key options, including the construction of an underpass to clear the commercial area intersection, the possibility of enabling a bidirectional lane within the tunnel, and the capacity for two buses to pass simultaneously in emergencies.
Currently, more than 1,700 bus services from the North and South use this access daily. Peak hour congestion not only affects passengers but also creates a domino effect that complicates circulation throughout the entrance to Santa Cruz.
The awarded company has a period of 15 months to deliver the final design. Of this period, 13 months will be dedicated to the exhaustive study of alternatives and the last two to drafting the project that will allow the construction works to be tendered. This progress is complemented by the Cabildo's policy of promoting stable employment, as the contract requires that at least 40% of the personnel assigned to the project have an indefinite contract.
