The Las Chafiras motorway junction in San Miguel de Abona, south Tenerife, has been undergoing significant roadworks aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion since October 2022.
The project, with an investment of approximately €23.6 million, involves replacing the old bridge with an elevated roundabout over the TF-1 motorway.
This new interchange is designed to enhance connectivity between the TF-65 road, which links San Miguel and Los Abrigos, and other key routes leading to major destinations like Las Américas and Santa Cruz.
Earlier today, Wednesday, the San Miguel Council announced that the last section of the slip road on the southbound carriageway is opening tomorrow, Thursday, at 2:00pm, which will allow drivers to join the TF-1 motorway directly after the roundabout.
This will ease traffic on the Llano de Camella side of the motorway at the main roundabout and at the new Oroteanda junction, as there will now be two ways to exit and join the TF-1 instead of one.
Progress of the Project
In October 2022, the construction of the elevated roundabout commenced, starting with the installation of pillars on both sides of the motorway and in the central reservation. This phase required the demolition of the existing bridge that connected the two sides of Las Chafiras.
By June 2024, the Tenerife Cabildo announced modifications to traffic flow on the TF-65 in Las Chafiras to facilitate the construction of the third lane on the TF-1 motorway, particularly between San Isidro and Las Americas. These changes were necessary to accommodate the initial earthworks for new access ramps leading to the Chafiras overpass.
In August 2024, a major demolition operation was carried out to remove one of the bridges on the southern Tenerife motorway at Las Chafiras. This was part of the efforts to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.
To minimise disruptions during the holiday season, the Canary Islands' Department of Public Works, Housing, and Mobility rescheduled ongoing roadworks at the Las Chafiras interchange in October 2024. This decision aimed to ensure that local residents and businesses, especially those in the nearby industrial estate, would not be adversely affected during the Christmas period.
As of December 2024, the project is nearing completion, with the new elevated roundabout partially operational. Once fully completed, it is expected to significantly improve traffic flow and capacity, benefiting both residents and visitors traveling through this crucial junction in Tenerife's southern region.
