SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife announced on Wednesday that the refurbishment works on the Southern Highway (TF-1) traversing Arico, Fasnia and Güímar, which amount to over 30 million euros, will commence on the night of 11 November and are expected to conclude in six months.
This was disclosed by the president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, alongside the island’s vice president, Lope Afonso, during a press conference conducted after the Government Council meeting.
Dávila clarified that these works represent one of the most significant rehabilitation interventions undertaken on the Southern Highway in recent years.
“This investment will not only enhance the quality of our roads but will also bolster the safety and comfort of the numerous drivers who traverse this vital communication route in Tenerife daily,” she explicated.
The operational stretch measures 24 kilometres, currently in a severely deteriorated condition, necessitating a resurfacing.
The works, set to commence at the end of this year and lasting until 2025, have a completion timeframe of four months.
“This will enable us to ensure that traffic continues to flow with minimal disruption while the work is being carried out. The project also includes the installation of rumble strips on the road edges, repainting, installing rigid concrete barriers, and creating parapets on bridges,” she highlighted.
Additionally, the Government Council has endorsed the renewal of the collaboration agreement with the University of La Laguna, which will facilitate over 40 students from the institution to undertake external internships, final degree projects, and master’s theses within the Cabildo or its autonomous organisations.
This initiative will benefit students from disciplines such as Humanities, Sciences, Health Sciences, Social and Legal Sciences, and Engineering and Architecture, offering them the opportunity to enrich their academic training through practical experiences.
This agreement, initially signed in 2012 and updated in 2020, aims to connect young individuals with the workplace environment and equip them with essential tools to tackle the challenges of the current job market.
These internships not only enhance students’ training but also strengthen the bond between the Cabildo and the University of La Laguna, aiding in the development of a cohort of highly qualified professionals for the island.
Furthermore, Lope Afonso, the vice president of the Tenerife Cabildo, reported on the advancements in works ensuring the provision of irrigation water to Tenerife’s agricultural sector.
He mentioned that “the water pipeline has been installed between the Cepsa tank and the Balten pumping station, on course to fulfil the commitments established following the declaration of a water emergency.”
MORE AGRICULTURAL WATER
An investment of 47,496.60 euros will make surplus desalinated seawater produced by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife WWTP available to farmers in the northeastern and southern parts of the island, which Balten procures to distribute among them.
This initiative is part of the institutional agreement relating to the declaration of a water emergency and executing the Water Emergency Plan for the island’s agricultural sector, approved by the Plenary of the Cabildo last March.
The project will incorporate an additional 1,500 cubic metres of irrigation water daily into the network.
Regarding housing, a total of 2.3 million euros has been earmarked for the Insular Housing Rehabilitation programme.
“In this manner, significant support is provided for those facing greater financial challenges to undertake the rehabilitation of their homes,” Afonso stated, noting that 29 municipalities on the island have expressed interest in joining this initiative.
In terms of Social Action, the Government Council has approved multi-year expenditure concerning the Institute of Social and Socio-Health Care (IASS) relating to a collaboration agreement to be formulated with the non-profit entity Asociación Solidaria Mundo Nuevo, aimed at managing a Specialized Protection Centre for comprehensive care of children and adolescents with disabilities in a residential setting.
The objectives of this agreement include establishing a specialised residential centre for minors with disabilities under the guardianship or custody of the General Directorate of Child and Family Protection; providing comprehensive and tailored care to these minors, addressing their specific needs within Tenerife’s child protection system; and creating a framework that connects with services for elderly individuals, ensuring coherent and continued support across all life stages.
The centre will accommodate a maximum of eight places, potentially reduced to six based on the specific needs of the minors. This centre is part of the network of 412 care placement opportunities managed by the IASS.
PARKING IN PUNTA DE TENO
In addition, the Government Council has sanctioned the award of the contract for executing the works included in the project named ‘Conditioning of Parking Areas, Vehicle Turning, and Pavement Replacement in Access to the Lighthouse at Punta de Teno’, located in Buenavista del Norte.
The total cost stands at 999,165 euros, with a timeline of ten months from the signing of the relevant agreement.
In the cultural sector, the Council has approved a proposal for future expenditure concerning the extension of the Collaboration Agreement established between the Autonomous Body of Museums and Centres and the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) for the promotion of Science and Technology, amounting to a total of 53,600 euros.
Additionally, a specific allocation has been authorised for the repair and enhancement of the TEA building, totalling 150,000 euros. Along similar lines, a sum of 750,000 euros will be directed towards improving accessibility at the Adán Martín Auditorium.
In the realm of sports, the Government Council has approved a two-year collaboration agreement between the Cabildo of Tenerife and the Spanish Sports Association (Adesp) for granting training scholarships to individuals within the sports sector, totalling 25 scholarships to be awarded.
