TF1 extension saga

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Nitwits.  This is not difficult stuff.  Anyone who's ever been to Madeira can testify to the number of far more complex barranco bridges there are there.  And it's all been in place for ages.

[Janet]

The Canarian government says that its roadworks priority for 2015 is the completion of the southern section of the TF1, and that it has already set aside €6m from the public works budget for the El Bicho tunnel and the Adeje-Santiago del Teide stretch of the motorway. The government says that its commitment is based on the importance of the entire ringroad project, and will be fulfilled despite cuts at national level from €220m to €54m. The southern extension is currently the only works project that has a financial commitment for next year, and if works continue now as planned, will open in March 2015, and the sticking point of the barranco de Erques should see the first pair of arches for the viaduct in place by the end of next month. JA

[Nova]

Has anyone started the book on it yet?  Or will no bookie take those odds? 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

We shall be keeping a sharp eye out for work on the viaduct.

[Janet]

I imagine that most people's response will be "I'll believe it when I see it",. but an agreement has been signed today by the Canarian Government's consejero de Obras Públicas, Transportes y Política Territorial, Domingo Berriel, and Tenerife President Carlos Alonso to finish the Adeje-Santiago del Teide stretch of the motorway extension ring road. The agreement will see €10m put into the works, €4m from the Cabildo and €6m from the the Canarian government . The stretch is expected to be functioning (maybe not fully finished but open to traffic) by the middle of 2015 in two parts - Vera de Erques to Santiago del Teide by end March, and Armeñime to Vera de Erques by end June. JA

[Janet]

The two 180m arches for the bridge over the barranco de Erques which forms part of the TF1 extension are now in Tenerife, and construction on the last remaining piece of the Adeje-Santiago del Teide stretch will begin next month. The bridge will be a 160m suspension design because the barranco de Erques is a protected area, and the size of the span meant that the infrastructure had to be made in stages in Italy and Cádiz. Each arch has been brought here in three sections, so six in total, and these will be transported to the barranco and assembled in situ. It is estimated that the process will take three or four months, becoming operational by the end of June, when the stretch is planned to be opened, as announced last November. JA

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

We were up on the mountain behind the house today so I got a picture of the site where the Erques bridge is being built.  The crane has been visible for a few days and the arch supports are easily visible from on high.  Also visible is the state of the spur road to Fosalía, the one they are not supposed to be working on.  As can be seen, it's ready for opening.

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[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

OH has just come in from a run and reports one of the arches is being raised right this minute.

[Michael]

Beautiful pics. 

[Perikles]

We have a fantastic view of the operation with binoculars. At present, they have one long catenary section dangling from a huge crane, but have not yet got it to span the barranco. They've got some VERY strong bright red rope, and more equipment there than it takes to change a lightbulb.