“It is verified that the required safety standards are met to guarantee the well-being and safety of the users of Bizkaia’s tunnels”
Full-scale simulation in the new tunnels under construction on the South Metropolitan Bypass
TECNALIA, in compliance with provincial regulations on tunnel safety, has supervised the performance of a full-scale simulation in the tunnels under construction to extend the South Metropolitan Bypass, as a prerequisite for its coming into service.
The Centre is responsible for coordinating the work; it collaborates with Sener, Lisitt and Tekia in the Bizkaia Tunnel Inspection Body (OITB) for Bizkaia Provincial Council.
This practical exercise made it possible to test the safety of the new Arnotegi and Seberetxe tunnels before they are put into service. Likewise, the objectives set out in the current safety regulations for tunnels in Bizkaia have been met, as established in Regional Decree 135/2006, of 23rd August on road tunnel safety and Regional Decree 91/2012, of 24th April on Technical Instructions for Safety and Operation.
TECNALIA has participated as an observer, issuing its own assessment
All the agencies that would collaborate in the event of a real emergency took part in the simulated accident and fire drill: the Basque Government's Emergency and Meteorology Department, the Bilbao and Provincial Fire Brigades, Osakidetza, Ertzaintza and tunnel operation staff.
This is an exercise to be carried out prior to the opening of a tunnel, and periodically during its operation to ensure the efficiency of the infrastructure, safety systems and procedures, the training of operating staff and the coordination of all the players involved.
In this way, it is continuously verified that the required safety standards are met to guarantee the well-being and safety of the users of Bizkaia's tunnels in the event of any incident
