The Department of Works, Infrastructure and Accessibility of La Laguna City Council will begin work on Monday, 11 August, to restore and improve the existing pavement at the intersection of Tabares de Cala and San Agustín streets, in the heart of the city’s historic centre.
The project will take approximately ten days to complete, during which time there will be traffic closures and diversions, with access to authorised garages and changes in traffic direction to facilitate entry and exit from the city centre.
The councillor responsible for this municipal department, Ángel Chinea, explained that this work will consist, first of all, of removing the current paving to check the condition of the subsoil layer, which is the most damaged due to the continuous passage of heavy vehicles.
‘Next, on this layer, a construction solution will be applied on an experimental basis that is being used in other parts of Spain and has yielded very good results on roads with similar characteristics that carry a significant daily traffic load,’ said the councillor, who explained that a preliminary report from the Town Planning Department was required for this project.
As a result of this request, an in-depth technical study was carried out on the state of conservation of the pavements in the historic centre, commissioned by the Municipal Urban Planning Department and coordinated with the areas involved through the Office for the Comprehensive Management of the Historic City (OGICH). This study, pioneering in its methodological approach, has made it possible to identify the structural causes of the deterioration observed in various streets and to design an intervention model that will be applied in pilot sections, such as the one now beginning in Tabares de Cala.
The Councillor for Land Use Planning and Director of the Urban Planning Department, Adolfo Cordobés, stressed that “this analysis marks a before and after in the way urban maintenance is approached in a World Heritage city. The conservation of historical value must go hand in hand with lasting technical solutions that respect the materials and uses of the old town and are aligned with more sustainable and orderly mobility. This work is part of the new Historic City Management Plan and will serve as a basis for future actions throughout the city centre.”The councillor also stated that the drafting of “this study has been made possible thanks to collaboration between municipal departments and under the coordination of the OGICH, in a demonstration of cross-cutting and specialised management that also allows us to guarantee that the actions comply with the provisions of the Special Protection Plan (PEP). The planning of these works not only responds to an urgent maintenance need, but also commits to a strategic and proactive intervention that guarantees the durability, pedestrian safety and urban identity of a World Heritage City”.
The analysis of the road network has focused on areas that are particularly sensitive due to their high traffic volume, such as Calle Tabares de Cala (between San Agustín and La Trinidad), the intersection of Calle Los Bolos with Calle Adelantado, the perimeter roads of Plaza del Cristo and the area around the church of La Concepción. These areas, finished in ignimbrite stone, granite or milled basalt, show varying degrees of deterioration attributable to heavy traffic or deficiencies in the sub-base layers, among other factors.
Based on this assessment, a technical strategy has been defined that will be validated through three pilot interventions at different representative points in the town centre: one with ignimbrite cobblestones, another with granite and another with milled basalt. The actions include both surface repairs and complete section reconstructions, incorporating innovative construction solutions and materials certified by the new European Construction Products Directive.
Changes to road traffic
In order to carry out this pilot project on Calle Tabares de Cala, it will be necessary to close the road to traffic. This road will remain closed while the paving is being laid and for several days afterwards, as this material requires a few days to settle before traffic can resume. There will also be changes in the direction of traffic on Calle Anchieta and Calle Bencomo, at the junction with the end of Tabares de Cala, to facilitate access to Avenida de La Trinidad from Calle Nava and Grimón.
These works have been scheduled for this time of year, taking into account the decrease in the number of vehicles travelling through the city as a result of the closure of certain companies and establishments for holidays and the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
La Laguna City Council is informing the residents and businesses affected, asking them to cooperate with the workers who will be in the area, in addition to putting up the relevant road signs. The Department of Works, Infrastructure and Accessibility has set up two communication channels for the public: telephone number 689 502 512 and email address incidenciasviaslalaguna@vias.es.