"The Provincial Council of Bizkaia maintains its commitment to safe infrastructures in order to guarantee the safety of users"
TECNALIA leads the OITB consortium that is responsible for maintaining the safety of Bizkaia's network of road tunnels
In 2024, the Bizkaia Tunnel Safety Inspection Body (OITB) continued maintaining the safety of the road tunnel network in the Historical Territory of Bizkaia, in terms of infrastructures, facilities and their operation. This consortium is made up of TECNALIA, SENER, TEKIA and the University of Valencia.
The Provincial Council of Bizkaia maintains its commitment to safe infrastructures in order to guarantee the safety of users, as well as their availability.
Tasks carried out by OITB in 2024
The following tasks were carried out by OITB in 2024:
- Inspections in the network's high-capacity tunnels, such as Malmasín, Artaza and Mamariga, as well as the Kadagua, Autzagane and Ermua bypass tunnels and the Southern Metropolitan Bypass tunnels. Fulfilment of the regulatory safety requirements set out in Foral Decree 135/2006, of 23rd August on road tunnel safety (DFST) and Foral Decree 91/2012, of 24th April on Technical Instructions for Safety and Operation.
- Tabletop exercise for emergency management in the Elorrio bypass tunnel.
- Guarantee compliance with the regulations on the adaptation of the Avanzada tunnel.
- Review of the projects for the new tunnels.
- Response to the different technical solutions proposed.
Watch the full interview on the evolution of tunnels in recent years on the following link from minute 21:45 onwards. Javier Cobeaga, Director of the initiative, explains the prevailing regulations and highlights the effort made to adapt the tunnels to the most modern facilities, positioning Bizkaia as a national benchmark.
