In a big win for Brits planning on heading to the Canary Islands, Tenerife’s major motorway that circles the popular eastern and southern parts of the island is in line for a significant upgrade. A major improvement plan for the nine-mile stretch of the TF-1 between Erques and Santiago del Teide – a gateway to the Teno Rural Park and the famous Masca village – has been approved, with a budget of €123million (£107million).

This upgrade will turn this busy single-lane section of the TF-1 into a full dual carriageway, a key step in plans to complete Tenerife’s Insular Ring, which is set to revolutionise travel around the island for both locals and holidaymakers. The Canary Islands Government has already approved the technical plans and the project is now open to public consultation for 30 days. The construction is predicted to take up to five years and will take place between the end of the Erques tunnel and the entrance to the Bicho tunnel.

According to Canarian Weekly, the road will be widened towards the sea, creating a total of five lanes: three towards Santiago del Teide and two towards Adeje. The redesigned route will have a planned speed limit of 80km/h (50mph).

The project also includes improvements to slip roads, local access routes, farm tracks, bridges, underpasses and drainage systems. New road surfaces and updated safety barriers will also be installed, alongside landscaping and environmental restoration works.

The upgrade has been given the green light after traffic forecasts up to 2048 revealed that this stretch required greater capacity, especially ahead of the opening of the new Erjos tunnel in 2027. Once completed, the tunnel, together with the TF-1 upgrade, will help complete Tenerife’s motorway loop, making journeys from southern Tenerife to Puerto de la Cruz quicker and more efficient.

As a major plus for locals and environmentalists, too, only limited land will need to be taken over. As the TF-1 is a regional motorway, the compulsory purchase limit extends 26 feet from the edge of the road. Much of the required land was already acquired during earlier works on the Adeje-Santiago del Teide section, meaning only a few new plots will be affected. No public land belonging to Guía de Isora or Santiago del Teide is included.

Eight small plots will be used temporarily during construction for storage areas and access to viaduct works. These will not affect any buildings and the temporary use will last between 12 months and the full five-year construction period.

Closer to home, a major UK motorway junction is also set for a £363million upgrade this year. Drivers in Gloucestershire will soon enjoy full access to the M5 at Junction 10. Currently, the junction only allows access northbound, but the project will allow motorists to join and exit the motorway in both directions, tackling congestion in west Cheltenham and improving connections across the region.