Cabildo Sets Out Lanzarote’s Road and Infrastructure Priorities Ahead of Elections

Jacobo Medina is the Cabildo’s Councillor for Public Works, with responsibility for all projects undertaken by the island’s government. As the four-year term of the current administration reaches its final straight, with elections due in May next year, we met with the young politician to talk about projects that are planned for the island.

Jacobo, what are the most important projects on your list right now?

The first is the construction of the Residence for the Elderly in Tahiche. This will be located just south of the town, near Adislan, and is a much-needed facility which I hope will open its doors in October 2027. I believe that the island needs much better care facilities for the elderly, and while this won’t answer demand, it is still an important start.

The second is social housing. We’re buying 46 homes in Playa Blanca for conversion to social housing, in addition to the apartment blocks that are already starting to open in Maneje, in northern Arrecife.

Then there is the road to Los Hervideros from Janubio. This has been a headache since a sinkhole appeared five years ago, with various solutions proposed. After surveying the area, we discovered eight points where the sea was eroding the rock beneath the road, and have decided to reinforce each of these points with concrete supports. It’s a big project, but all eight points need attention – there’d be no point fixing the road only to see another hole appear later.

What other projects are currently being tackled?

We’re currently working on several projects aimed to beautify parts of the island that require it. Right now, the landscaping of the approach to the airport is being carried out. The bridge will be given a new façade, there’ll be a pavement area and we’re planting on either side of the road. This will prevent cars parking by the roadside, which has been going on for years now.

We’re currently renovating the main road through Teguise, and there are similar plans to smarten up and renovate roads leading out of Arrecife to San Bartolomé, the road to Tahiche, and a €5 million project to “iron out” the humps and dips in the road from Arrecife to Costa Teguise.

What are the most important road projects?

The widening of the LZ-40 to Puerto del Carmen from the airport is the biggest project that will be taking place soon. This should be fully licenced by the end of the year, after which we can finalise a contract with works expected to start next year.

We’re also hoping to progress with a plan to connect the upper roundabout in Argana Alta with the roundabout on the Arrecife approach road, which will improve access to the hospital and commercial zone.

There are plans for ring roads in Teguise, connecting the two main petrol stations there, and we’re planning new roundabouts near the Levain bakery in Tahiche and also at Zonzamas.

We also intend to improve connections on the road from Guatiza to Órzola, improving safety in places like Punta Mujeres.

What about widening the road from Yaiza to Playa Blanca, where some serious accidents have taken place recently?

In my opinion it’s vital, and we’ve made all the necessary requests for the Canarian Government and state to carry this out, but it has not been included in the latest agreements. So, unfortunately, all we can do there is wait and keep asking.

Anything else?

Plenty. I’m hoping to have the Manrique wind toy at Montaña Blanca up again next year, and the older wind toy that used to be in the airport will be back by the end of next year, I hope.

In Arrecife, there are plans to renovate the waterfall that Manrique designed by the side of the Charco de San Ginés, as well as the Puente de las Bolas and the Commercial Pier leading to the castle.

Is there still a plan to build a road from the Toro roundabout in Puerto del Carmen to the Yaiza school, to take some pressure of Tías?

No. That’s not going ahead at the moment. I’ve also suggested a tunnel to Uga, but nobody’s been interested in that idea.

What about longer term aims that have been proposed in the Island Plan. For example, the proposal for a “City of Health” near Tahiche.

That’s one of the ideas envisioned for the longer-term future, with a “City of Health” and a “City of Justice”, which would include new law courts, envisioned on either side of the Tahiche road. But these are huge projects and we’re not expecting anything to happen for at least ten years.

Thanks for your time, Jacobo.