Drago Tenerife criticizes Padre Anchieta overpass for cost overruns and doubtful effectiveness

The political group denounces delays, a 42% cost overrun, and questions the infrastructure's utility compared to more sustainable alternatives.

Generic image of a pedestrian overpass over a busy road at dusk.
IA

Generic image of a pedestrian overpass over a busy road at dusk.

Drago Tenerife criticized on Tuesday the delays and cost overruns of the overpass at the Padre Anchieta roundabout, in La Laguna, inaugurated after five years of works.

The political group stated that the project concluded more than four years behind schedule and with an approximate cost overrun of four million euros, increasing the initial budget from 8 million to over 13 million, a 42% rise.
According to Drago Tenerife, this case highlights the "management incapacity" of the Canary Islands institutions, particularly the Cabildo de Tenerife, which significantly delayed the execution period, initially set at 18 months, and passed the cost overrun onto the citizens of Tenerife.
The spokesperson for Drago Tenerife, Carmen Peña, suggested that the invested funds could have been used to improve the bus service, a more sustainable mode of transport than private vehicles. Alternatively, she proposed the installation of intelligent traffic lights, considered more economical and effective for improving mobility at the roundabout.
The group criticizes that the overpass continues to prioritize cars, despite the island being congested with traffic. They believe these "pharaonic works" benefit "business friends of the current government" and that traffic jams will persist.
Peña also lamented the "evident visual impact" of such a large infrastructure in a World Heritage city, noting that the overpass is visible from the Plaza del Cristo.
Finally, the spokesperson questioned the feasibility of future projects like the train, given the demonstrated inability to complete the overpass and the Anillo Insular on time and in form, warning of a potential "catastrophe" for Tenerife.