The Department of Public Works of the Gran Canaria Island Council has brought forward this opening by several hours after bringing forward the work of the temporary asphalting of the viaduct in the northbound direction of the Guiniguada during the night of Friday to Saturday
The closure of the viaduct southbound remains in place for Sunday night, so traffic on the GC-3 in that direction will have to be diverted from Siete Palmas.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Architecture and Housing of the Gran Canaria Island Council , under the direction of Vice President Augusto Hidalgo , has reopened the northbound lanes of the Guiniguada viaduct on the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ring road (GC-3) to traffic . This reopening comes after the successful completion of the resurfacing and signage work following the waterproofing project , bringing forward by more than 12 hours the date initially scheduled for early Sunday morning.
This progress comes on top of the advances already made during the waterproofing work itself, which has been completed in just one week, when it was originally estimated to take 14 days. The efficiency demonstrated in this work significantly contributes to improving traffic flow and reducing disruptions at one of the key points in the island's road network.
Upcoming work on the Guiniguada viaduct: closure in the southbound direction
After reopening the northbound lanes to traffic with the waterproofing completed—although the final layer of asphalt still needs to be applied—the same section is scheduled to be temporarily closed southbound tomorrow night. This closure will allow the same work to be carried out on the inland side of the bridge deck, thus ensuring the safety and durability of this vital infrastructure for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
“ It’s excellent news that we’ve been able to bring forward the opening to the north by seven days because this will significantly alleviate the traffic burden the lower city has been experiencing recently ,” Augusto Hidalgo emphasized. We must congratulate everyone involved, both workers and technical staff, for achieving this important milestone thanks to their effort and dedication.
On Friday night, workers from Lopesan , the company contracted to carry out the project on this strategic section of the GC-3 highway, began the temporary paving of over 10.000 square meters of previously installed asphalt membrane. An initial eight-centimeter layer was applied, which will be followed by a final overnight layer to complete the planned work.
Impact on traffic and alternative routes
For just over a day, from today until tomorrow night, the Guiniguada viaduct will remain fully open in both directions. This is because the contractor in charge of the waterproofing work needs this time to plan and carry out the closure of the southbound lane, which will begin Sunday night.
With this reorganization of the work, the entire project is expected to be completed by August 23 , provided there are no unforeseen incidents during its execution. Starting with the nighttime closure on Sunday southbound and for approximately 14 days, drivers traveling on the GC-3 towards Telde or southern Gran Canaria will need to detour past Siete Palmas via the GC-23 (La Ballena tunnel road) to access the lower town and continue their journey along Avenida Marítima and the GC-1.
The Public Works Department has established these detours to minimize traffic disruptions. Vehicles will be redirected through the La Ballena tunnels (GC-23) towards Julio Luengo, continuing to Avenida Marítima and finally connecting with the GC-1.
Technical and economic details of the project
In total, more than 18.000 square meters between the two decks of the Guiniguada viaduct will be waterproofed . This work is being carried out in record time, as it usually takes much longer. The project is part of the overall plan for the complete resurfacing of 11 kilometers of the ring road, awarded by the Regional Ministry of Public Works last year for over 18 million euros , and is being carried out primarily at night to minimize disruption to drivers.
The waterproofing corresponds to Lot 2 of the general project, executed by Lopesan Asfaltos y Construcciones, with an approximate investment of 2,2 million euros allocated to this section alone.
Recommendations for citizens and conclusion
With the aim of minimizing disruption during the construction work on the Guiniguada viaduct, the Gran Canaria Island Council requests the full cooperation of all citizens. It is recommended to plan journeys in advance, consult alternative routes, and use public transport whenever possible to avoid congestion and facilitate the progress of the works.
The early completion of the northbound works represents a significant improvement to traffic flow in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, especially in the lower part of the city. However, it is important to remember that although the expected completion date has been shortened to August 23—seven days ahead of the initial deadline—the southbound works are still scheduled to take up to fifteen days. Therefore, drivers are advised to exercise caution and stay tuned for future official updates regarding traffic and roadworks conditions.
