Europe, tunnel, road network--Europe's 'sublime and depressing' tunnels

EuroTAP [European Tunnel Assessment Programme] 2010 has unveiled the results of inspections conducted earlier this year in 26 major tunnels in 13 European countries.

The on site inspections, carried out between 12 April and 20 May, 2010, are said to indicate that an "alarming number of operational tunnels across Europe will not be ready to comply with EU tunnel safety rules when they come into effect in 2014."
Of the tunnels (four in Spain, three in Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland, two in France and Norway, one in Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and for the first time in the history of EuroTAP, in Iceland) overall one was rated as poor, three as very poor, two as acceptable, four as good and 16 tunnels scored very good.
The EU Tunnel Directive setting the minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road networks was adopted in 2004.
EuroTAP says that despite significant progress made by many tunnel operators, practically 40% of tunnels tested in EuroTAP 2010 did not score top marks.
"We can see indications that some Member States will have an obvious problem to comply with the deadlines set by the EU Tunnel Directive by 2014, 2019 respectively," said Wil Botman, director general of the FIA [Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the organisation of the world's leading motoring organisations] European Bureau. "It is necessary to speed up the process of refurbishment of tunnels already in operation in order to meet requirements of the Directive and to improve the safety of all motorists."
EuroTAP claims that inadequate breathing equipment for fire fighters, a major shortcoming in half of all tunnels would make rescues in thick smoke impossible. Similarly, the frequently noted lack of tunnel loudspeakers makes warnings about accidents to drivers entering or already in the tunnel impossible. Missing hydrants and information displays at portals, no barriers to close the tunnel, dark tunnel walls and insufficient escape route signs were among the most common deficiencies, while 19% of tunnels lack appropriate lighting and in-tunnel traffic radio reception, conditions all motorists expect to function.
With motorisation across Europe expected to increase and not just in peak holiday periods, roads and tunnels will have to bear increasing daily volumes of vehicles and increased risks of accidents.
"This year's results show the state of Europe's tunnel infrastructure at its most sublime and most depressing quality. In last place out of the 26 tested tunnels is Iceland's Hvalfjörður Tunnel. For this EU candidate country, EuroTAP can serve as a benchmark in its efforts to become an EU member and comply with EU legislation.
"At the other end of the test results scale stands the Duplex Tunnel in France. Located near Paris, this exemplary and innovative double-deck tunnel with cross-connections and additional escape and rescue routes every 200m, offers the full range of safety features that other operators should target."

Source: World Highways