T4.02 BE Tunnel Safety Systems

Overview/ summary

This task within the Meridian project is composed of 3 sub-tasks on 3 of the tunnels located on the Core and Comprehensive TEN-T road network, i.e. the Kennedy tunnel, the Tijsmans tunnel and the Craeybeckx tunnel:

Tunnel closure system of the Tijsmans tunnel
To increase the tunnel safety in the Tijsmans tunnel automated barriers will be installed to create a physical barrier to enter the tunnel in the event a serious incident occurs in the tunnel (accident, fire, etc.). In addition, dynamic traffic management systems are added in the last kilometres before the barrier to enable safe operation of the barriers. In addition, dynamic signalization gives guidance to the road users to prevent incidents and to create a higher or safer flow during events, depending on the type of events.
Public address speakers for the Kennedy tunnel
Speakers are required to support evacuation when severe events occur, encourage road users to leave their vehicles and give instructions when a serious event occurs in the tunnel (accident, fire, etc.) where evacuation of the tunnel is needed.
Public address speakers for the Craeybeckx tunnel
Speakers are needed to help tunnel evacuation in the event of a severe incident, to encourage road users to leave their vehicles and to give instructions in case of a serious event in the tunnel (accident, fire, etc.) where evacuation of the tunnel is required.

Introduction

The Agency for Roads and Traffic is constantly improving the safety of the tunnels and particularly of the tunnels on the TEN-T road network.

To reach his goal different techniques are implemented during the maintenance windows or planned refurbishing windows. Different traffic management techniques, such as cameras, automatic incident detection, dynamic signalization, tunnel closure systems and public address speakers have different goals, but they all aim to increase safety for the road user and for emergency services.

Name of the organisation carrying out the project: Flemish government – Agency for Roads and Traffic.

Pictures/media/video's/news items

Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic wegen.verkeer@mow.vlaanderen.be

The core message

Objectives:
The objective of these incremental measures is to increase the safety in and around 3 of our TERN road tunnels.

Results expected:
The project increases the safety and hence the road network reliability for the road users on the Core TEN-T network. In addition, also the safety for the emergency services during tunnel incidents is improved, and it shortens the time needed to stabilise the event/incident and to clear the road. Improved incident management will lead to faster restoration of the traffic flow.

Project description:
The project implements incremental safety measures for 3 of the Flemish TERN tunnels, of which the Kennedy tunnel is one of the busiest tunnels in Flanders.

Implementation schedule:
Craeybeckx tunnel: completed and in service (2022)
Tijsmans tunnel: completed and in service (2021-2022)
Kennedy tunnel: the tube in the direction of Ghent is completed, while the tube in the direction of the Netherlands is planned to be completed summer 2023.