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| Blackwall Tunnel improvements completed more than a year early  Essential safety works on the northbound Blackwall Tunnel have been completed over a year ahead of schedule. As a result overnight closures will end and motorists will regain full use of the tunnel from 11 November.The improvements bring the 114 year old tunnel up to date with the latest safety standards, and are designed to significantly reduce the number of incidents which force the tunnel to close. They include the installation and commissioning of new upgraded ventilation fans in the tunnel's four shafts, improved incident detection as well as installation of new lighting, upgraded CCTV and new communication systems throughout the tunnel. New safety inlets have been constructed in the tunnel wall with emergency phones and fire extinguishers providing a safe area for drivers whose vehicles break down in the tunnel. These will allow TfL to direct emergency services to specific incidents, helping them deal with any potential disruption more rapidly. TfL have also introduced an additional lane for HGV vehicles on the northbound Blackwall Tunnel approach which will enable all overheight vehicles to be diverted away from the tunnel before they reach the entrance reducing unnecessary delays. Last year overheight vehicles caused the northbound Blackwall Tunnel to be closed 1448 time; leading to a total of 56 hours of avoidable closures. The scale of refurbishment works carried out is such that a similar programme of work within the tunnel should not be required for another 25 years. Conscious of the inconvenience that such major improvement schemes can cause Londoners, TfL has worked hard with its contractors to change working methods to prevent the need for closures and complete the refurbishment as quickly as possible. By completing the works 13 months earlier than initially projected, the tunnel will now remain open overnight during the busy Christmas shopping period. TfL will also be reducing the planned maintenance closure regime from weekly to fortnightly. A new closure regime will be established before the end of the year. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Construction News :: home page |