MONT BLANC CONFIRMED CLOSED AS RECRIMINATIONS BEGIN

Estimates for the time of closure of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, after its fire in March 1999 with at least 40 fatalities, range from six to twelve months. It is still too early to forecast it accurately, because site investigations and immediate safety checks are continuing, and there are conflicting damage reports. The fire was believed to have started in the refrigeration system of a lorry carrying margarine and flour, and the lorry was abandoned near the centre of the 11.6km long single bore. Most of the fatalities seem to have been killed by smoke and fumes from the fire. The tunnel was originally designed for only 350,000 vehicles per year, but now carries over 2M, including 750,000 heavy lorries; these vehicles regularly travel bumper-to-bumper above the 80.5kph speed limit. It is now being questioned whether the tunnel control and emergency systems were adequate and properly maintained. There have also been allegations that the managers put profits before improved safety. The design of the tunnel is outdated. Specific faults reported so far are: (1) only one trained fireman on duty; (2) inadequate seals in the refuges; (3) poor ventilation control; (4) a possibly ineffective emergency warning system; and (5) a faulty automatic video recording system. There are disputes about which authorities were responsible.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0041414X
• Corporate Authors:

  Miller Freeman

  Calderwood Street
  London,   United Kingdom  SE18 6QH
• Publication Date: 1999-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 6-7
• Serial:
  • Tunnels & Tunnelling International
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Progressive Media Markets, Ltd
  • ISSN: 0041-414X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Crashes; Design; Emergencies; Fatalities; Fires; Highways; Mountains; Pollutants; Street closure; Trucks; Tunnels; Warning systems
• Geographic Terms: France; Italy
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 2452: Air pollution; 9011: Design (overall design); 2184: Emergency; 1602: Fatality; 1624: Fire; 8036: France; 2755: Highway; 8051: Italy; 1236: Lorry; 4048: Mountain; 2431: Pollutant; 637: Road closure; 3374: Tunnel; 9113: Warning
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00768680
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 10 1999 12:00AM