While long-delayed roadworks in Las Chafiras are finally nearing completion, local businesses say they’ve already paid a heavy price, with some reporting losses of up to 20% due to years of construction traffic disruptions.
According to Carlos González Cuenca, from the Circle of Entrepreneurs and Professionals of South Tenerife (CEST), many small businesses in the area have struggled to survive the extended delays.
“Even once the roadworks are finished, the real challenge for many shops and businesses will be recovering the customers they lost due to years of mobility problems as people have avoided the area,” he said in an interview with Atlántico Hoy.
Over five years of delays
Originally scheduled to last 30 months, the project has now dragged on for over 60 months, double the original time scale, causing major diversions, traffic jams, and access issues throughout one of the island's most important commercial zones.
Las Chafiras isn’t a single industrial estate, but rather a collection of four areas: Las Chafiras 1 and 2, Llano del Camello, and Las Andoriñas. In addition to industrial businesses, many residents live and run small businesses in the area, making the delays even more damaging for local livelihoods.
Depending on the size of the business, losses have ranged from 15% to 20%, with some companies even being forced to shut down entirely, González Cuenca reports.
Calls for better coordination
Although he acknowledges the recent progress and the efforts made by public authorities, particularly praising Francisco Javier González, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure of the Canary Islands Government, González Cuenca stresses that lessons must be learned to avoid similar problems in future phases.
“Las Chafiras isn’t just an industrial zone, it’s a key access point for residents and for tourist areas such as Las Galletas, Guargacho, Amarilla Golf, Golf del Sur, and Los Abrigos,” he points out. The delays have not only hurt local businesses but also complicated access for visitors and residents alike.
Currently, work is finally progressing according to schedule, with the new motorway junction expected to be fully operational by the end of summer. However, recovering lost customers will take much longer, he warns.
With the next phase, the third lane of the TF-1 motorway between San Isidro and Playa de Las Américas still ahead, business leaders are urging local authorities to ensure much better coordination between the various administrations involved to avoid repeating the mistakes of this one.
