What is being built on the TF-5?
The TF-5 is being widened from two to three lanes between Guamasa and Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport (Los Rodeos) in the direction of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Also planned are the redesign of the Guamasa and San Lázaro junctions and a new junction or roundabout in the airport area. This is intended to better separate traffic heading to the airport from traffic travelling between Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
A central element is the demolition of the existing bridge in the airport area. The current configuration prevents the carriageway from being widened there.
What does the widening mean for drivers?
Commuters, residents, foreign residents and hire car customers should expect disruption and delays during the construction period. The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, asked road users on 20 October 2026 for “a great deal of patience”.
The good news: the number of lanes will be maintained in both directions on the TF-5 and on the adjacent island roads TF-152 and TF-235. There is therefore no risk of queues caused by lanes being removed.
However, it has been pointed out that carriageway narrowings will occur. The presence of machinery and workers could also affect traffic flow. “Hay un efecto que afecta al tráfico: el tema de la distracción de la obra en sí, que eso no lo vamos a poder evitar,” Melián said, according to El Día.
When do the works start and how long will they last?
Work is due to start after the signing of the acceptance and site establishment record, known in Spanish as “acta de replanteo”, in the week after 20 October 2026. Diario de Avisos refers to impacts from November. That means an expected start in late October or early November.
The construction period is 35 months. No specific completion date was given in the available sources.
Work is to take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The site management wants to keep the impact on traffic as short as possible.
Which roads are affected?
The main works are concentrated on the section of the TF-5 between Guamasa and Tenerife North Airport. The Guamasa and San Lázaro junctions are also affected.
The adjacent island roads TF-152, the old north road, and TF-235, the road from La Cruz Chica, are also included in the construction planning. The number of lanes is to be maintained there too.
Rosa Dávila stressed that the impact is not limited to the municipality of La Laguna. Residents of Tacoronte, Tegueste and El Sauzal could also experience delays on their journeys.
How much does the widening cost and who is paying?
Sources show only 'more than 58 million euros'. The exact figure and the contractor could not be checked.
The original tender budget was €66,401,344.71 including IGIC. The later contract sum is therefore around €8.22 million lower than the original budget.
The contracting authority is the Consejería de Obras Públicas, Vivienda y Movilidad of the Gobierno de Canarias, the regional ministry for public works, housing and mobility of the Canary Islands government.
What is still open?
Not yet known are a detailed construction schedule, specific traffic diversions, individual closure dates and the exact end date. Speed restrictions or changes to airport access routes have also not been published so far.
According to the available information, there is no new fee, registration requirement, application deadline or special rule for residents or visitors. Tenerife North Airport remains accessible.
The first works include new ground investigations and checks of the affected utility lines. After that, work will initially take place at the junctions before the main section of the TF-5 is directly affected.