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"
News
The Road Tunnel Operator Association acts as host for a two day Tunnel Forum each spring and autumn at venues around the UK. Prior to these Forums the Association holds its formal meetings. Details of forthcoming Forum dates and venues can be obtained from the Secretary or Chairman. At each forum a number of sessions are usually devoted to commercial presentations on matters and systems of interest to Tunnel owners and operators.
In the autumn of 2009 the RTOA held their first joint Forum with their French counterparts in Paris, with the aim of cementing closer links between United Kingdom and Eire tunnel operators and French owner/operators. These meetings have proved invaluable with each providing the other with regular activity reports with particular reference to Fires and major incidents and the lessons learned thereof.
The RTOA committee have two main work streams at present. The first is developing an accredited training programme utilizing the existing level 3 Diploma in Traffic Management underpinned by a National Highway Sector scheme 22 workbook, which will detail all the procedures and standards related to the management, operation, installation and maintenance of road tunnels. A second workgroup are focusing on presenting a unified approach to the Department for Transport with regard to a suite of special signs and road markings applicable for use in Tunnels and on Toll road plazas.
Two new road tunnels in the United Kingdom were opened last year. The second Tyne Tunnel -known as TT2 – on the A19 near Jarrow and the Hindhead Tunnel in Surrey. This £371million project to tunnel beneath the ‘Devils Punchbowl’ – a natural landmark of special scientific interest -on the A3 is the longest non estuarial tunnel in the UK at 1.8km long.
The Association also takes an interest in any incident affecting Tunnels. On 29th July 2011 a lorry went on fire inside the Brynglas Tunnel on the M4 in South Wales causing major traffic problems given 80,000 vehicles a day use it.
Apart from new Tunnels, in the last year or so there have been major refurbishments, incorporating many new safety features, in the original Tyne Tunnel, the Queensway Birkenhead Tunnel, Hatfield, Holmesdale , and Blackwall with more works planned and underway including a £8 million water mist system in Dartford- a clear indication that UK Tunnel Operators aim to stay ahead of the game when it comes to Tunnel safety.
On a lighter note two UK Tunnels were used in making of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part1". External scenes were filmed at Dartford Toll plaza while all the internal scenes of Hagrid and Harry being chased by Death eaters on a motorcycle and sidecar were filmed in The Queensway Birkenhead Tunnel.