The Department of Public Works, Infrastructure, Architecture, and Housing of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, led by vice-president Augusto Hidalgo, will reopen the Temisas road (GC-550) in the municipality of Agüimes to traffic tomorrow morning. Repair works on the retaining wall, damaged by Storm Therese in late March, have concluded. With this opening, the Cabildo declares all affected island network roads, previously closed due to collapses and undermining, operational again.
The Temisas Road was one of 22 routes on the Insular Road Network severely damaged. The Cabildo commissioned 18 emergency works to restore normalcy and ensure road safety. Vice-president Hidalgo, alongside the mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández, and the first deputy mayor of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Julio Ojeda, supervised the works on this section, which had been closed to traffic for nearly five months. Work continues on another section of the GC-550 with traffic limited to a single lane.
The Department of Public Works has invested just over one million euros in these two repairs, out of a total of 14.3 million euros allocated to the 18 work lots awarded on an urgent basis in April. Vice-president Hidalgo highlighted that the opening meets the planned schedule, allowing residents and visitors to once again enjoy the connection between Agüimes and Santa Lucía.
The mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández, thanked the Cabildo for its efforts in completing a vital work for the municipality. Meanwhile, Julio Ojeda, first deputy mayor of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, celebrated the restoration of connectivity between the two municipalities after a highly complex project.
The reconstruction of the largest wall, measuring eight meters high and 90 meters long, has been completed. Asphalting works will be carried out tonight to allow full circulation tomorrow. The repair involved an excavation of eight meters to reach firm ground, the construction of the new concrete masonry retaining wall, drainage systems, and the replacement of vehicle containment systems and signage. The investment in this first wall alone exceeds 850,000 euros.
Work will continue on the GC-550 at kilometer 3.9, with completion expected by mid-October, maintaining traffic limited to one lane with traffic light control. Three of the 18 emergency works have already been finalized: the GC-324 in Pino Santo (Santa Brígida), the GC-291 in El Hormiguero (Santa María de Guía), and works on the Ariñez road (GC-400).
With the opening of the GC-550, all major roads affected by Therese are now open. Initially, in April, ten roads remained closed. Currently, three low-traffic routes (GC-602 and GC-604 near reservoirs, and the access road to Tirma from GC-200) still have restrictions but have connectivity alternatives, ensuring no population is isolated by road.
The nature of the emergency works, including unforeseen geotechnical issues, has led to a modification of the initial budget. The Department of Public Works now forecasts an investment of 14.3 million euros for the 18 works. Approximately 65% of the planned actions, representing over eight million euros, have already been executed.
