The Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Canary Islands Government, Sebastián Franquis, signed this Tuesday the file by which the construction works of the new underpass under the LZ-2 are tendered to improve the connectivity of the Lanzarote town of Playa Honda with the industrial and commercial area that is on the other side of the highway. The project was already approved last February and now the deadline is opened to receive offers for the contracting of the works, with an investment of 3,290,613 euros.
"The construction of a new underpass in Playa Honda has been planned to alleviate the current underground link under the LZ-2, creating a new one in parallel, an action that has been promoted by the Cabildo of Lanzarote and that has been assumed by the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Canary Islands Government, as it is the owner of the LZ-2 regional interest road", they point out from the regional Executive.
The project, drafted by the Cabildo and updated and adapted by the technical services of the Regional Ministry, contemplates the creation of a transversal axis under the LZ-2 that serves as communication between Playa Honda and the Industrial and commercial area located on the other side of the highway. "It is about creating another underground passage parallel to the current one, but in this case with a design that facilitates both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, favoring pedestrian and bicycle communication", they emphasize.
With this action, according to the project, it will be possible to "free the current roundabouts of access to Playa Honda from a minimum of 9,000 vehicles per day, a traffic density that generates retentions at specific times that also affect the LZ-2". In addition, with the design of the new underpass, it is possible to "promote pedestrian circulation, through this new axis, from Avenida del Mayor to the commercial area, regenerating spaces that today are collapsed with vehicles and that form both a physical and visual barrier for the pedestrian."
The works, which are expected to begin in the fall, aim to execute a new underpass "wide, safe and provided with natural lighting through skylights on the roof that will allow to regenerate both the interior air, as well as provide light and provide greater comfort to the space." In addition, this step will be provided with the "sufficient amplitude for the coexistence between pedestrian, cyclist and driver implementing a pedestrian sidewalk of 5.50 meters, a segregated bike lane of 3.50 meters, a green strip of 1.90 meters, and a circulation lane of 5.50 meters."
In addition, on the LZ-2 road, on the underpass, interurban bus stops will be made in order to eliminate traffic at this junction. These stops will be connected to the underpass through outdoor routes.