INSIGHT | ROAD TUNNELS – SAFETY AND OPERATIONS
SMART FUTURE OPERATIONS
SMART tunnels are the future of safe and intelligent highway tunnel operations, explains Norris Harvey, Vice President, Tunnel Ventilation and Fire & Life Safety Lead, for HNTB’s National Tunnel Practice.
Alaskan Way road tunnel. Images courtesy of HNTB.
Highway tunnels are becoming more and more automated as technology advances and also are increasingly remotely managed and monitored. Highway agencies can provide the same level of monitoring remotely as they can locally. Therefore, remotely-operated tunnels managed from regional traffic management centres that oversee large transportation networks are on the rise. In addition, many of the tasks performed in tunnels are similar to those carried out on open highways. For example, when debris is reported on a roadway, a work order is created and assigned to the nearest available maintenance crew. Clearing debris in a highway tunnel is no different and follows a similar process. Tunnels, however, present unique challenges. Unlike open
roadways, they are enclosed environments with complex systems that support motorist safety and tunnel operations. These systems require more maintenance and closer
24 | October 2026
monitoring than those found on traditional highways. SMART tunnels are designed to address these
challenges. By combining embedded intelligence with integrated digital systems, they enhance safety, improve resiliency and increase operational efficiency. Continuous monitoring and predictive analytics allow operators to move from reactive maintenance to proactive asset management, helping identify potential problems before they become failures. Embedded in the discussion of improved maintenance is the concept that the tunnels will be as safe, if not safer due to system availability rising with predictive maintenance.
DEFINING SMART TUNNELS SMART tunnels are built around five core design principles: Safe, Maintainable, Accessible, Resilient and Technology-Driven.
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