Those driving from Tenerife South Airport along the TF-1 towards Playa de Las Américas may see a very different landscape in the future. The Canary Islands Government has commissioned an initial study for a major landscaping improvement project along the more than twenty-kilometre corridor between the airport and the main tourist areas in the south of Tenerife. The plan is intended not only to introduce more greenery, but also to reduce visual and noise pollution along one of the island’s busiest roads.
Original landscape has changed significantly
The study was presented by Francis González, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure of the Canary Islands Government, to representatives of local councils and business associations in the south. The section under review runs roughly from San Isidro to Los Cristianos and covers an area that has changed considerably over recent decades due to housing development, tourism, industrial areas and infrastructure. As a result, much of the original dry and volcanic landscape has disappeared or become heavily fragmented.
The TF-1 plays a dual role in this respect. On the one hand, the motorway is essential for access to the southern municipalities, residential areas, tourist centres and economic zones. On the other hand, in several places it creates a physical and visual barrier in the landscape. According to the study, the heavy traffic also causes noise pollution and other environmental effects.
A more attractive appearance
One of the main proposals is therefore to introduce more vegetation along the motorway. Trees and shrubs could serve as natural screens, while roundabouts, access roads and embankments could also be made greener. In addition, the plan proposes creating so-called ecological corridors, allowing natural areas and local ecosystems to be better connected. Vegetation could also help improve air quality and provide cooling in densely built-up areas.
The project also has a tourism-related objective. For many visitors, the TF-1 between Tenerife South Airport and Las Américas is the first landscape they see after arriving on the island. Business associations in the south have therefore been calling for some time for a more attractive appearance along this important access route. They have pointed, among other things, to unfinished embankments and areas around recent roadworks where they believe the landscape has not been sufficiently restored.
Plans for the future
For the time being, this is not yet a final implementation project. The intention is first to identify which locations require the most urgent intervention and then carry out the work in phases. The planned future expansion of the TF-1 between Oroteanda and Las Américas is also being taken into account in the study. Business representatives are asking for the landscaping improvements to be implemented through a multi-year plan so that the project does not depend on political changes.
It is not yet known exactly when the first works will begin or how much the complete project will cost. However, the study makes it clear that the appearance of the main gateway to southern Tenerife is now receiving greater political attention.
Photo: AI ChatGPT
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