The César Manrique Foundation (FCM) has presented allegations against the project of the macro-roundabout and two other roundabouts that the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility of the Government of the Canary Islands intends to carry out at the entrance of Arrecife. In this line, it has highlighted the "environmental, landscape, urban planning and economic repercussions" that they would have in this space.
The aforementioned project involves the creation of a new connection link between the LZ-2 roads (which connects Playa Honda with Arrecife) and LZ-3 (which connects Arrecife with Teguise) through a macro-roundabout of 120 meters in diameter, four access branches and a new access branch to the urbanization of El Cable Norte. To this must be added two more roundabouts, of 30 and 70 meters in diameter, in the urbanizations of El Cable Sur and La Bufona.
Among other points, the César Manrique Foundation has highlighted in its allegations that the project is "not coherent" with the objectives of energy transition nor with the proposals of the island's mobility model, which has been approved by the Cabildo of Lanzarote recently.
The Environmental Impact Study is missing. In the first place, the FCM has pointed out that, despite the fact that the project "does not consider it necessary" to elaborate said study because it adheres "to the literalness" of the Environmental Assessment Law, it should have presented this study, taking into account its "size and impact" on the environment.
Biased alternatives. Secondly, the Foundation has estimated that the three alternatives proposed in the project opt for a single LZ-2 and LZ-3 highway without considering "alternatives of much less impact and economic cost" to tackle the problems that are intended to be solved.
Among others, it has pointed out that these proposals do not contemplate the alternative of undergrounding for the turning to enter Arrecife from Teguise or "a simpler solution" of connection between the two highways that maintains the current layout and resolves "some movements" with the installation of a roundabout at level.
The Foundation has accused the study of being "biased" and leading to the choice of the elevated macro-roundabout. "The chosen solution of macro-roundabout is the most expensive, with a required investment of 24.5 million euros, compared to others that do not reach 20 million euros." In addition, it does not assess the landscape impact, which is so important on an island like Lanzarote.
At this point, it has offered alternative options such as a link that complies with environmental, landscape, economic and climatic criteria. A second option that is based on a peri-urban road infrastructure that articulates the agglomeration between Arrecife and Playa Honda. Thirdly, a link that improves safety in the left turn from the LZ-3 access to Arrecife.
For the FCM, the "most coherent" option with the territorial model of Lanzarote is to "build a roundabout at level" to access the capital and join the ring road from the Airport.
"This could be easily resolved with a roundabout at level, with 35 meters in diameter of the inner ring and about 55 meters in diameter of the outer ring," he indicated. In his view, this alternative "solves the problems of capacity and safety" without occupying more territory than the current node and demolishing the branch between the road that connects Teguise with Arrecife.
"Therefore, from an environmental, economic and functional point of view, this alternative is much more convenient than any of those handled in the project object of these allegations," he added.
Modifications. After the request of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and the revision of the Government of the Canary Islands, the project contemplates a third lane from Arrecife in the direction of San Bartolomé and Playa Honda. To which must be added the creation of a road between the urbanization El Cable Sur and La Bufona, which begins with a roundabout of 30 meters in diameter and another of 70 meters.
"The solution selected by the project is not the one initially valued, but one of greater size and impact," the Foundation has alleged.
Mobility model. The Foundation has highlighted that the chosen model opts for an interurban highway, where longer journeys and higher speeds are contemplated, without taking into account the option of building a road to connect different neighborhoods of the capital of Lanzarote.
"Compared to the interurban highway and motorway model [...], multi-lane road models are offered, with somewhat lower mobility, but with superior accessibility," the Foundation added.
This project does not contemplate active mobility (of pedestrians and cyclists) nor the use of public transport. "Nor is there an analysis of the requirements that may exist for current and future bus services," he added.
Contradictions. In the allegations presented to the project, they have indicated that the message that is transmitted is the indefinite increase of the automobile fleet, the routes and the use of the car.
All this, against the Island Plan for Sustainable Mobility of Lanzarote (2024-2031), dated last November. In the aforementioned projections, it is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.
It also contradicts the Strategy of the electric vehicle of the Canary Islands and has added that "there is no coherence between the growths foreseen in the macro-roundabout project and what is proposed" in the aforementioned strategy.
Urbanizations of El Cable Sur and Norte
Thus, on the connections with the urbanizations of El Cable, the César Manrique Foundation has estimated that a "independent and more complete diagnosis" must be made to tackle the mobility problems of these spaces.
