As Easter approaches in Tenerife, the Semana Santa marks the official start for Canarians to begin their annual travel spree.
Everyone heads somewhere during this week, which causes the dreaded traffic jams and road congestion due to the funnel effect toward ports, tourist regions, and airports—a recurring mobility issue every year. Over 70,000 passengers will use the port of Los Cristianos between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday to travel to a sister island or to return from their Easter getaway.
Traffic peak
The port of Los Cristianos is preparing for its own ‘Strait Crossing’ during Semana Santa, a period in which 72,000 passengers on regular lines and nearly 20,000 vehicles will board ferries bound for San Sebastián de La Gomera, Santa Cruz de La Palma, and the port of La Estaca (El Hierro), according to sources from the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife who confirmed this to the newspaper yesterday.
According to data provided by the ferry companies, Fred. Olsen will transport 55,000 passengers on the three routes from the southern pier to the western islands, while Armas expects a movement of 17,000 passengers. La Gomera is the most popular destination for this short spring break, accounting for more than half of the trips, followed by La Palma and then El Hierro.
Five ferry boats will provide connections between Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro during Easter week: the Benchijigua Express and Bencomo Express from Fred. Olsen, and the Volcán de Teno, Volcán de Taburiente, and Volcán de Tirajana from Naviera Armas.
Traffic plan
This expected passenger flow between Friday, April 11 and Sunday, April 20 has led the Port Authority, the municipality of Arona, and the ferry companies to coordinate a traffic plan to streamline boarding and disembarkation on the most critical days—Wednesday, Thursday, and especially Sunday during the return operation.
In that regard, both the port police and the local police of Arona will strengthen their presence inside and outside the port area to avoid traffic congestion. Efforts are being made to keep access via El Espigón street flowing smoothly and to ensure the entrance and exit of the pier’s parking area.
This coming weekend, a parking ban will apply on El Espigón street from Saturday at 4:00 p.m. to Sunday at 10:00 p.m. This measure aims to keep the exit from the port of Los Cristianos clear, according to sources from the Port Authority, who confirmed that the police operation will be reinforced.
The ferry companies, in turn, will advise passengers returning to Los Cristianos to exit with their vehicles via Madrigueras Street, instead of the usual route via Chayofita and Juan Carlos I avenues.
Public controversy
Semana Santa coincides with a heated debate about the limitations of the Arona port and possible solutions—a discussion that has sparked tensions between the president of the island government of La Gomera, Casimiro Curbelo, and his counterpart from Tenerife, Rosa Dávila.
While Curbelo calls for an immediate reorganization and threatens a demonstration in Santa Cruz in August, Dávila responded that on Tenerife, “things are handled through dialogue and consensus, not with threats or ultimatums.”
A recent study by the College of Civil Engineers of Roads, Canals, and Ports of Santa Cruz de Tenerife proposes possible solutions such as expanding the port of Los Cristianos (with an outer harbor or extending the current pier) or revising and downsizing the existing project for the port of Fonsalía, in the municipality of Guía de Isora.
Residents and merchants of Los Cristianos have also expressed their strong opposition in recent weeks to the expansion of the port area.
Fred Olsen © Photography
As Easter approaches in Tenerife ©
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