Anyone who regularly drives along the TF-1 may notice something new near Candelaria on the glass noise barriers beside the motorway. The Cabildo of Tenerife has had special white markings installed there to prevent birds from flying into the transparent panels. The measure was carried out near Calle Frailes Dominicos, where, according to the island authorities, an unusually high number of birds had died after colliding with the glass.
Dangerous combination
The problem affects a stretch of approximately 93 metres. Along this section, 24 glass noise barriers stand next to a green area used by various bird species for shelter and nesting. It was precisely this combination that proved dangerous. When birds fly out from the vegetation, they do not always recognise the transparent or reflective screens as an obstacle. They effectively try to fly straight through them, often with fatal consequences.
To address the problem, vertical white strips have been applied to the panels. Each strip is two centimetres wide, with a distance of eight centimetres between the strips. This allows the glass to retain its function as a noise barrier while making it far more visible to birds. According to the Cabildo, the markings disrupt both the transparent and reflective effect of the glass, allowing birds to react in time and alter their flight path.
More than a cosmetic measure
The measure may seem simple, but it follows research carried out by the Cabildo’s Biodiversity Department and environmental officers. They established that repeated bird deaths had been occurring at this location. Environmental organisations had also previously drawn attention to the issue. The intervention is therefore not simply intended to improve the appearance of the motorway, but is a targeted measure at a site where a clear impact on wildlife had been identified.
A budget of €6,521.65, including IGIC, was allocated for the work. The contract covered both the production and installation of the markings on the 24 affected screens. A period of fifteen days was provided for completion of the work.
According to Dámaso Arteaga, the Cabildo councillor responsible for roads, the intervention demonstrates that environmental considerations must also be taken into account when managing transport infrastructure. Blanca Pérez, who is responsible for natural environment management, also stressed the need for measures in places where demonstrable harm to wildlife is occurring.
Problem identified earlier
The situation in Candelaria is not entirely new. As early as June, the Cabildo announced that it was working together with the natural environment services to find a solution to bird collisions along this section of the TF-1. It was also stated at the time that checks would be carried out to determine whether similar problems were occurring at other locations along the motorway.
The new markings are now the practical implementation of that plan. For motorists, very little changes, but for birds living alongside Tenerife’s busiest motorway, the difference could be significant.
Photo: AI / ChatGPT
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