The Road Tunnel Operator Association
THE BRITISH TUNNELLING SOCIETY
"to promote the art and science of tunnelling through creativity"
"Exchange knowledge and techniques on roads and transportation"
Mission Statement
Representing the interest of road tunnel owners and operators and being a focus for collective opinion on matters related to the operation of road tunnels.
Supporting, and acting as a point of reference for, future further development of National and International maintenance and operation standards.
Supporting the needs of road tunnel operators by establishing standards, and means of validating standards, with particular reference to staffing functions, expertise, training, certification and legal obligations.
The RTOA's Chairman during the inaugural year is the vastly experienced John Gillard, formerly General Manger of the Mersey Tunnels, until his retirement in December 2006.
Mr Gillard said " This new body has been nurtured and shaped over the last three years in response to the requirements of legislators, the needs of tunnel users, and the responsiblities of the tunnel operators themselves.
However, we should not forget the principle driver for change has been safety, and the need to avoid a repeat of the disasters we have seen elsewhere in Europe.
Our aim is to ensure road tunnels in the UK and Eire maintain their position amongst the safest in the world"