Project for “false tunnel” to ease traffic on the TF-1 in south Tenerife is cancelled
A major road project aimed at easing chronic traffic congestion in the south of Tenerife has ground to a halt, with no progress made more than three years after it was awarded. The so-called “false tunnel” along the TF-1 motorway, between Playa de Las Américas and Fañabé in Adeje, remains paralysed due to an ongoing legal dispute between the contractor and the Canary Islands Government.
The project, designed to tackle one of the busiest stretch of motorway on the island, has become mired in litigation and administrative delays. According to regional president Fernando Clavijo, the scheme will not go ahead during the current term due to “legal and financial difficulties”.
At the centre of the dispute is a disagreement between the Ministry of Public Works and a consortium of construction firms, over changes to the original project. The companies argue that updates were necessary to comply with new structural regulations introduced in 2024 and climate legislation. However, the government claims these modifications breached the original contract terms.
As a result, the contract is now being terminated, forcing the project back to square one. This means a new design will need to be drafted and the entire construction tender process restarted.
The contractors are seeking €27 million in compensation for losses and damages, while the administration disputes this figure, estimating it closer to €11 million.
Originally included in a road infrastructure agreement between Spain and the Canary Islands in 2018, the project was formally awarded in August 2023 with a budget of around €90 million. Despite this, no construction work has begun.
A key solution to mounting traffic
The project aimed to bury more than two kilometres of the TF-1 under a concrete structure — similar to the tunnel along Avenida 3 de Mayo in Santa Cruz de Tenerife — running from the vicinity of Siam Mall in Costa Adeje to junction by X-Sur in Torviscas.
The plan would separate long-distance traffic from local access to hotels, shops and residential areas, a major source of congestion in the south of the island.
Currently, the TF-1 is operating far beyond its intended capacity. Designed for around 25,000 vehicles per day, it now carries close to 94,000, rising to over 100,000 on its busiest stretches. Journeys that should take under five minutes between Las Américas and Costa Adeje can stretch to nearly an hour during peak periods.
Local frustration grows
Officials at Ayuntamiento de Adeje have voiced strong criticism of how the situation has been handled, accusing the regional government of a lack of political will.
Councillor Manuel Luis Méndez questioned why the contract was being cancelled after already being awarded, warning that restarting the process could delay the project by between eight and ten years.
“This is one of the most congested corridors in Spain, and now we are being told to start again,” he said.
The council also argues that improving mobility in the south will require infrastructure solutions like this project, rather than relying solely on long-term proposals such as a southern rail link.
Funding and wider concerns
The project had already been allocated around €37 million in staged funding between 2023 and 2026. However, officials say funds are only released as work progresses — meaning little has been spent so far.
The stalled tunnel is part of a broader issue affecting road investment in Tenerife. Of the approximately €350 million earmarked for roadworks on the island between 2023 and 2026, around 40%, roughly €138 million, has yet to be executed.
For residents and visitors alike, the delay means continued congestion on one of the Canary Islands’ most vital transport routes, with no immediate solution in sight.
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