What does it mean for holidaymakers and residents in the south?
For most holidaymakers and European residents in the resort areas of southern Tenerife, little changes in day-to-day life at first. The construction site is in the north of the island, between Guamasa and Tenerife North–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport. Anyone not travelling in that direction will hardly notice the work.
The picture is different for anyone who needs to get to the airport in the north. The Consejería de Obras Públicas, Vivienda y Movilidad del Gobierno de Canarias has announced that lanes will remain open but may be narrowed. Construction machinery and moving traffic are likely to cause tailbacks.
Travellers should therefore allow extra journey time if they need to catch a flight from Tenerife North. No specific closure dates or diversion plans have been published so far. There are also no new fees or access restrictions for car hire customers.
Where exactly is the work taking place?
The TF-5 is being widened in the direction of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The section between the Guamasa junction and Tenerife North–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport will be expanded from two to three lanes.
Plans include remodelling the Guamasa and San Lázaro junctions and a new direct airport link. The current access via a shared connection will be separated into northbound and southbound traffic. The demolition of the Los Rodeos bridge is also planned as part of the work.
The first phase includes surveys, checks on affected utility lines and work on the junctions. The main carriageway section follows later.
How will traffic flow during the construction period?
During the work, both existing lanes on the TF-5 are generally expected to remain open in each direction. This was confirmed by the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, and the director general for road infrastructure, Rosana Melián, when presenting the traffic plan.
That does not mean free-flowing traffic, however. In some areas lanes may be narrowed. Those responsible admitted there would be “inconveniences”. Construction machinery and moving traffic are likely to cause tailbacks and delays.
The work is organised on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week. The aim is to keep the construction period and the impact on traffic as limited as possible. The total construction period is given as 35 months.
Who is paying for the widening?
The contract formalised on 2 October 2026 is worth 58,182,981.26 euros including IGIC. The contractor is the joint venture UTE Ferrovial Construcción, S.A. and Asyota Asfaltos y Obras, S.L. The original tender budget was 66,401,344.71 euros including IGIC.
The measure is being implemented by the Consejería de Obras Públicas, Vivienda y Movilidad del Gobierno de Canarias under minister Pablo Rodríguez. Responsibility lies with the Dirección General de Infraestructura Viaria. The Cabildo de Tenerife and the affected municipalities are involved as administrations but are not awarding the work.
Funding comes through the Canarian government's road-building activities. A detailed breakdown between autonomous, state or European funds was not published in the statements.
Why is the TF-5 being widened?
The TF-5 is one of the busiest roads in the Canary Islands. According to Cabildo president Rosa Dávila, more than 110,000 vehicles use the motorway every day. During the morning peak hour the figure is up to 12,000 vehicles per hour.
The widening is intended to increase capacity and improve safety. The new direct airport link will separate northbound and southbound traffic in future. Vehicles coming from the north will be able to drive directly to the airport without having to continue to San Lázaro.
The project is part of a larger plan for the corridor between Guamasa and La Orotava. This longer 17-kilometre section is also expected to receive a third lane in each direction at a later stage. The estimated investment for that is around 300 million euros.
What is still open?
The exact start date in November 2026 has not yet been announced. The next formal step is the signing of the setting-out report in the week following 20 October 2026. Preparatory survey and junction work is then expected to begin.
The detailed construction schedule, individual closure or night-work windows and specific diversions remain open. There is also no official calendar confirming the exact start in November. Those responsible announced meetings with Aena, the municipalities, the Cabildo and the traffic directorate to inform the public.
Mayors and mobility officers from the municipalities along the TF-5 as well as representatives of the chamber of commerce and local police have been invited to talks. No new fees, applications or access restrictions for residents and visitors are planned.