The vice-president and minister of Public Works for the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, speaking in Valladolid, highlighted that the maintenance of each kilometer of road tunnel on the island costs the insular treasury 150,000 euros annually. This figure contrasts sharply with the 110,000 euros the State allocates for maintaining a kilometer of AVE high-speed railway track.
“"Basically, a kilometer of high-speed rail in Spain costs about 110,000 euros per year, while a kilometer of tunnel costs us 150,000. We are even above countries like Germany, the Netherlands, or Switzerland, whose average spending on maintaining a kilometer of high-speed railway is 140,000 euros annually."
Gran Canaria's insular road network includes 31 tunnels totaling 14 kilometers, resulting in an annual maintenance cost of 2.1 million euros for these structures alone. The Cabildo invests approximately 50 million euros each year in the conservation of its over 1,300 kilometers of roads, which include 490 kilometers of high-capacity routes such as the GC-1, GC-2, and GC-3.
In addition to this, an extra 25 to 30 million euros are allocated annually for structural works, whether routine or urgent, such as those required after atmospheric phenomena. A spokesperson for the insular government emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding these figures to better appreciate future mobility policies.
“"The public has the false impression that roads only need investment when they are built and that afterwards, once they are operational, they require no further expense. And this is a false impression because every year we have to invest between 75 and 80 million to keep these roads in good condition."
Detailed figures were also provided for maintenance costs per kilometer on other roads, ranging from 51,800 euros for the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ring road to 18,800 euros for more conventional inland routes. Given these expenses, the need to implement new, more sustainable public transport models in Gran Canaria is highlighted, aiming for decarbonization and reduced land consumption.
Consequently, the Cabildo government is promoting the train project that will connect the capital with the south of the island. This initiative has already received a favorable environmental impact statement, paving the way for its definitive approval and the commencement of necessary land expropriations.
