www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk
DECEMBER 2013
TUNNEL MAINTENANCE 39 Talking tunnels
Maintaining six separate tunnels (Rotherhithe, Blackwall north bound, Blackwall south bound, Eltham, Saltash and Hindhead)
across three contracts is no mean feat. But EM Highway Services carries out a successful operation through the use of robust management and maintenance planning at each location. At a time when the need to deliver more for less is crucial,
EM embraces collaborative working and innovative practices to minimise disruption to the road user
The Saltash tunnel is a road tunnel on the A38 at Saltash in Cornwall, UK and was opened in 1988. The central lane operates as a reversible lane to cope with holiday and rush hour traffi c with a speed limit of 30mph. The tunnel was constructed to take the A38 London to Penzance trunk road beneath the town of Saltash. The only tunnel of its kind in Europe, Saltash is a single bore, three- lane bi-directional tunnel, working on a controlled tidal fl ow system. Lane designation for the fl ow is indicated by overhead illumined arrows and illuminated road studs set into the road surface.
As part of the strategic road network from London to Penzance, Saltash tunnel requires carefully planned traffi c management; two lanes are open for Plymouth bound traffi c during the morning, while in the afternoon and evening two lanes are open for Cornwall bound traffi c. The fl ow system extends across the adjacent Tamar Bridge and is operated by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry bridge authority.
Essential routine maintenance at the tunnel is scheduled during a Friday and Saturday night, every quarter. During these closures, routine maintenance is carried out, this includes cleaning, wall washing, sweeping of the carriageway, minor defect repairs, mechanical and electrical maintenance and communication systems maintenance.
James Haluch, EM’s Highways Agency service director, said: “Saltash is a busy part of the network in Cornwall so keeping it well maintained is imperative for the local and wider economy. There isn’t much time to carry out all the required tasks but our well managed and process driven approach means they are always completed with the tunnel opening on time.”
Blackwall tunnels are closed on a monthly basis for routine maintenance
Saltash was completely refurbished in 2004. However in 2011 the original illuminated road studs were replaced with “intelligent” LED ones. By replacing these studs, which required a high level of maintenance, the need for weekly closures was eradicated, and the current three-monthly closure programme initiated. The change in closure regime brought about numerous benefi ts. Haluch adds: “Moving to these LED
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68