The Medway Tunnel has rated very poor when compared with other European tunnels, despite being only 10 years old, the AA Motoring Trusts latest Euro Tunnel Assessment Programme (EuroTAP) survey reveals.
Tested for the first time, it finished ninth worst out of 52 tunnels surveyed across Europe this year, being the only UK tunnel inspected this year. The surveys findings show that some road tunnels in the UK may still fall way below safety standards recognised across Europe.
EuroTAP inspectors, qualified tunnel safety engineers, found that the Kent tunnel lacked:
- regular emergency drills and training for tunnel personnel
- a permanently-manned tunnel control centre with camera coverage throughout the tunnel
- automatic detection of traffic incidents
- an automatic fire alarm system
- an emergency response plan
The Medway Tunnel, sited near Rochester with a traffic flow of 46,000 vehicles per day, has already begun to plan and implement improvements recommended by the EuroTAP inspectors. These include:
- new video surveillance
- an emergency response plan
- greater coordination between the tunnel operator and the emergency services
- a video link to a control centre in Rochester
EuroTAP has previously inspected the Mersey, Blackwall, Dartford, Rotherhithe and Tyne tunnels, many of which have been improved and upgraded since their inspections.
"The Medway Tunnel management cooperated fully with the 2006 inspection, recognising that it was important to tunnel users for the crossing to be benchmarked against the European average. We are impressed with the speed with which they have moved on the tunnel experts recommendations," says Paul Watters, head of roads and transport policy for The AA Motoring Trust.
"Thankfully, tunnel incidents in the UK are relatively rare, but a fire in the Frejus Tunnel in June killed two. The more significant Mont Blanc fire in 1999 killed 39 people and led to an official being jailed for six months in July.
"Drivers in the UK, as well as those going on holiday through Alpine, Pyrennean and other European tunnels, need to make the effort to learn what to do when a tunnel fire breaks out. Knowing what to do can be the difference between life and death."
Throughout Europe, 21 of the 52 tunnels surveyed rated very good, 10 good, eight acceptable, five poor and eight very poor. Five out of six Italian tunnels rated poor or very poor.
Download the Medway Tunnel Test 2006 Report (PDF 362K)
