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Los Cristianos port is gearing up to face one of the highest traffic peaks of the year over the next few days. According to forecasts provided by ferry companies, almost 50,000 passengers and 12,000 vehicles are expected to travel through the port between this Thursday and Easter Sunday.
The Tenerife Port Authority confirmed yesterday that the southern dock will see the embarkation of 19,800 passengers and 4,910 cars and trucks between Thursday and Good Friday.
They will set sail for San Sebastián de La Gomera (the most in-demand destination), Santa Cruz de La Palma, and La Estaca in El Hierro as part of the second phase of the Easter holiday exodus.
These numbers are in addition to the trips recorded during the first phase last Friday and Saturday when 7,500 passengers and 2,170 vehicles boarded.
Furthermore, between the two phases, from last Sunday until tomorrow, Wednesday, a traffic volume of 3,800 passengers and 1,300 vehicles is expected.
However, the return operation on Sunday is anticipated to be even more critical in managing arrivals and, consequently, road traffic through the port and town of Los Cristianos, with over 27,000 passengers and around 7,000 vehicles expected to disembark over the weekend from the Western Islands, most of them on Sunday, but some waiting until Monday to avoid congestion.
Five ferries will operate between Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro this Easter: the Benchijigua Express and Bencomo Express from Fred. Olsen, and the Volcán de Teno, Volcán de Taburiente, and Volcán de Tirajana from Naviera Armas.
Both the Port Authority and Arona Council will implement a special operation to regulate traffic circulation and prevent congestion. This will involve increased presence of Port Police inside the port and Local Police on the streets, responsible for regulating traffic at the port exit roundabout and in the parking areas on Avenida La Habana and Calle Espigón.
The Port Authorities have been acknowledging for many years that the conditions at Los Cristianos port are not optimal and highlight the increasing pressure on infrastructures in the south due to a notable increase in travel demand in recent decades, as highlighted by the progressive increase in the number of ferries per day.
One of the most critical voices has been that of the leader of the ASG political party, Casimiro Curbelo, who has made repeated calls to public administrations because, in his opinion, "decisions cannot continue to be postponed."
On February 20th, after a breakdown in the hydraulic system of the Armas ramp forced two loaded ships to remain at sea for three hours whilst it was fixed, Curbelo said that "it is unacceptable that we have been talking about the Los Cristianos port and its alternative in Fonsalía for 20 years, and have done nothing about it.”
The regional councillor for Public Works, Housing, and Mobility, Pablo Rodríguez, announced the creation of a working commission last Wednesday in the Canary Islands Parliament, to analyse proposals and seek alternatives to improve connectivity from Los Cristianos port.
While noting that the saturation of the southern facilities is "a historical problem" and represents "a significant challenge" for connectivity with the western islands, he said that the Cabildo has announced two strategic actions to improve mobility in the area.
Firstly, an investment of 90 million euros to bury Avenida Chayofita and take traffic leaving Los Cristianos underground, and secondly, to build an interchange and improve the TF-655 road leading to Los Cristianos.
