The Ministry of Transport confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that the General State Budget includes five million euros to improve access in and out of the port of Los Cristianos towards the TF-1 motorway, which responds to the demands raised by the Arona Council to reduce traffic jams that are generated by the port.
Los Cristianos is one of the busiest ports in the Canary Islands for ferries, but almost all of the cars that arrive do not stay in the town, but want to go directly to the TF-1, which causes grid lock on certain days.
The proposals financed by the Ministry are based on two objectives: to guarantee two exit lanes along the entire access to and from the port, and to provide at least one free lane (without giving way or stopping at junctions) along the entire route.
The nominal subsidy of five million euros includes a project for an underground tunnel beneath the main Los Cristianos roundabout to speed traffic flow to the motorway, and increasing Avenida de La Havana to two lanes.
The mayor of Arona, José Julián Mena, welcomed the news saying the grant is an "important step towards a need for the modernization of Los Cristianos, the regeneration of the town, and the improvement of the port access".
However, the Arona City Council indicated that it will try to modify some aspects of the Ministry's proposal which they don’t agree with. Among these is the creation of two lanes on Avenida de La Habana, as they say it will mean the loss of valuable parking spaces which are already scarce in the area.
