Increasing the capacity of the AP-6 motorway and Guadarrama tunnels: operation by reversible roadway and evolution in the safety systems

Several years ago, the toll motorway AP-6 had serious traffic jam problems during peak time both at departure and return of the weekends and holidays in the passageway of the Sierra de Guadarrama (about 60 km to the northwest of Madrid), with an average daily traffic (ADT) over 85,000 vehicles per day during those periods. The circulation under the mountains was developed through two tunnels of 3,000 m long each. These tunnels were built at different time. This communication examines both the design criteria used and the project carried out to increase the capacity and the modification of the existing circulation system, using the central carriageway of this section for reversible operation. This paper examines aspects of project design and project of the accesses to the reversible carriageway and also the operation and system security, and will present the experiences registered in this regard from the start up. At the same time, the already existing tunnels were updated regarding safety requirements to follow the current safety standards for road tunnels (Directive 2004/54/EC) and its transposition into Spanish law.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/13949-en-Proceedings%20of%20the%20XXIVth%20World%20Road%20Congress,%20Mexico%20-%202011.htm
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of the World Road Association – PIARC.
• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • Arenas, R Perez
  • Ortiz, S Rodon
• Conference:
  • 24th World Road Congress
  • Location: Mexico City , Mexico
  • Date: 2011-9-26 to 2011-9-30
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 14p
• Monograph Title: 24th World Road Congress Proceedings: Roads for a Better Life: Mobility, Sustainability and Development

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freeways; Highway capacity; Highway design; Highway safety; Reversible traffic lanes; Vehicular tunnels
• Geographic Terms: Guadarrama (Spain)
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I25: Design of Tunnels; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01502312
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 2840602679
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 23 2013 11:06AM