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The construction of the third lane of the TF-1 motorway in the south of Tenerife, is entering a critical phase as authorities work against the clock to prevent the expiry of the environmental impact assessment that could halt the project.
Spanning over 23 kilometres, the motorway connects the heavily trafficked tourist and residential zones between San Isidro and Adeje, passing through the municipalities of Granadilla de Abona, San Miguel de Abona, Arona, and Adeje.
The project aims to add a third lane in both directions across four key sections:
1. San Isidro to Las Chafiras,
2. Las Chafiras to Oroteanda,
3. Oroteanda to Las Américas,
4. Las Américas to Fañabé.
In addition to widening the road, the plan includes major junction redesigns, improved access points, and surrounding infrastructure upgrades.
However, the project is at risk of being severely delayed unless remaining phases are launched before the completion of the Las Chafiras–Oroteanda link, which is now in its final stages.
If the environmental declaration expires, the entire stretch the work covers would need to undergo a new approval process, a setback that could stall progress for at least two years, according to government sources.
Current Status of Each Section
Administrative Pressure and Environmental Risk
The joint environmental declaration that unites all four sections is central to maintaining project coherence. If the required tenders are not issued before Las Chafiras–Oroteanda is completed (anticipated mid-2025), authorities would be forced to start the environmental process again for each section.
This risk of "fragmentation" has been a point of concern. Former Tenerife Council President, Pedro Martín, warned that failing to meet this timeline would force the administration to abandon the integrated strategy, leading to independent, slower assessments for each project.
Public Transport and Sustainable Mobility
Beyond road expansion, the project opens new opportunities for enhanced public transport infrastructure. The Tenerife Cabildo proposed in 2023 to convert parts of the third lane into bus-VAO (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes, offering dedicated space for buses, taxis, and shared vehicles, particularly for routes to the south airport.
This vision is in line with the island’s Sustainable Mobility Plan, currently under public review, which outlines three bus-VAO corridors aimed at reducing congestion and encouraging collective transport.
The TF-1 expansion is more than a construction project, it is a balancing act between infrastructure development, environmental stewardship, and efficient governance. As deadlines loom, the future of one of Tenerife's most vital roadways rests not only on physical progress but also on overcoming complex bureaucratic and environmental hurdles.
