www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk
studs means fewer planned closures for the travelling public. Intelligent LED road studs have less maintenance requirements and have proven to be more energy effi cient as well as providing greater system reliability. The use of the studs has reduced maintenance costs for both revenue and capital elements.”
Hindhead tunnel
Hindhead tunnel is situated in Surrey and opened for business two years ago. The tunnel was designed to relieve a notorious bottleneck at Hindhead village crossroads. With a challenge to provide a suitable diversion of the A3 protecting the Devils Punch Bowl beauty spot which is also a site of special scientifi c interest (SSSI), the Hindhead tunnel has greatly reduced the travelling time from London to Portsmouth and the south coastal resorts.
The pre-existing Hindhead tunnel control centre (TCC) was recently amalgamated into the network control centre (NCC) for the whole of Area 3 – the Area 3 NCC was previously based at Rosalind House, Basingstoke during the managing agent contractor (MAC) contract. In order to achieve requirements of the new asset support contract – which mobilised in November – the operational on-road incident management functions of the centre merged with the operational and technical requirements of managing both maintenance and incidents that occur within the confi nes of Hindhead tunnel by the tunnel control centre.
The most technologically advanced tunnel in Europe, Hindhead boasts radar tracking, linear heat detectors, fog sensors, automated signage, advance drainage system and illuminated road studs designed to replace the need for cones in the use of contra fl ow. There is a phased approach to emergency incidents in the tunnel – which is 1.8km long – from temporary lane closures
DECEMBER 2013 An overhead view of the Hindhead tunnel
TUNNEL MAINTENANCE 41
“Hindhead boasts radar tracking, linear heat detectors, fog sensors, automated signage, advance drainage system and illuminated road studs”
until the scene is cleared or made safe through the setting of contra-fl ow working through the alternate bore to a full tunnel closure when a full scale rescue operation is underway.
Haluch notes: “In those cases the unaffected tunnel bore becomes an access and egress route for the emergency services. The most recent challenge has been to educate motorists on the need to comply with the red X gantry symbols indicating a lane is closed. We are assisting Surrey Police on education campaigns to ensure lane compliance so as to protect our workforce and users of the tunnel when there is an incident.”
Other tunnels
Blackwall, Rotherhithe and Eltham Tunnels combined are the busiest tunnels in EM’s portfolio. These tunnels together have a throughput in excess of 165,000 vehicles per day. The Blackwall tunnel consist of two bores (NB and SB), with Rotherhithe operating on a single bore, bi-directional traffi c fl ow system and Eltham consists of
Maintenance works being carried out at Saltash tunnel
two box sections, with two lanes in each direction.
Mitesh Solanki, EM’s local authority service director, said: “These tunnels are the busiest part of the LoHAC south network we manage. Motorists can experience long delays when travelling through these tunnels due to the high volume of traffi c, EM works hard to maintain them to an appropriate specifi cation to mitigate any potential issues that could cause the travelling public any further disruption.”
“Blackwall tunnels are closed on a monthly basis for routine maintenance; since the recent refurbishment of both bores (SB in 2007 and NB in 2011), the maintenance requirements were reviewed by EM and Transport for London and subsequently monthly closures were implemented. This decision was welcomed by the general public as it reduces the congestion on one of TfL’s busiest routes, the A2/A102 – A12 Corridor.”
Solanki added: “Blackwall tunnel was recently featured on a national television programme, Route Masters. This programme highlighted the plight of the road users as well as bringing to the fore the works that sometimes go unnoticed behind the scenes to ensure these assets are maintained to the most appropriate standards.”
Due to the profi le of the assets, Rotherhithe tunnel has regular maintenance which EM carries out every Monday from 10pm to 5am the following day. Together with TfL, EM is looking at installing light emitting diodes (LED) systems. This new system has been installed in, Eltham tunnel by EM, which is located on the A2.
The new lighting system is approximately 60 per cent more energy effi cient, easy to maintain and has a greater life expectancy as opposed to conventional lighting.
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