Safety First in Hatfield Test

This article will discuss the safety of the Hatfield Tunnel, which carries the A1(M) motorway under the Gallerias shopping and leisure center at the core of Hertfordshire town. The tunnel was recently the scene of a highly-detailed, seven-hour, night-time exercise set up to test the Highway Agency (HA) and local emergency response procedures in dealing with a serious road traffic incident. The exercise performed was a multi-vehicle collision that resulted in a disastrous fire. The tunnel has been the subject of a 23-month £60 million upgrade that was completed in May 2011 to bring it up to the European safety standards introduced after the Mont Blanc tunnel fire in 1999. Enhancements tested included improved lighting with a controlled system to increase or decrease threshold and transition zone lighting to reflect ambient conditions; upgraded ventilation; and closed circuit television (CCTV). The exercise ended on time and there was a general satisfaction at the level and effectiveness of interagency cooperation.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410683
• Authors:
  • Crawford, David
• Publication Date: 2011-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 412-413
• Serial:
  • Traffic Engineering & Control
  • Volume: 52
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0041-0683
  • Serial URL: http://www.tecmagazine.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Closed circuit television; Crashes; Emergency response time; Fires; Lighting; Safety; Tunnels; Ventilation equipment
• Geographic Terms: Hertfordshire (England)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01358834
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 16 2011 2:46PM