/en/print/14215/transport-tunnels-in-slovakia-fettered-by-misapprehension-and-myths/ Transport tunnels – in Slovakia fettered by misapprehension and myths

Transport tunnels – in Slovakia fettered by misapprehension and myths

For the public tunnels represent mainly negative denotation meanings connected with overcharging or not sticking to the time schedule, but most of all connected with metaphoric designation of economic criminal activities. Much less is being spoken about the positive aspects and advantages and about the overall benefits for society. Compare to other alternatives, however, exactly positive aspects are unambiguous: transport routes are becoming shorter, protect human lives as well as time and money, do not devastate the nature and Earths surface, are more ecological and comparing to mountain passages it is much safer, are not subject to weather influence and enjoy a long lifespan. And last but not least, to most possible extend, tunnels preserve character of the nature and countryside. Though investments into tunnels are astronomically high, equally high is also the recoverability.

Countless savings and other benefits

June 23rd will mark the two-years anniversary since Sitina tunnel at D2 was opened on Lamačská cesta – Staré grunty motorway. Transit drivers as well as domestic motorists got used to its existence now and perceive it as an obvious fact. They enjoy it, as if they totally forgot the decades marked by waiting and hopping in endless traffic jams at front of Patrónka traffic lights.

The tunnel, which was awarded a title Construction of 2008, remarkably reduced the traffic load in western part of the Slovak capital. Not to mention the numerous benefits in form of appreciable atmosphere improvement (less fuel – less fumes), remarkable decrease of noise level, improved appearance of the city or overall improvement of the environment for residents in the whole wide area.

“Thanks to this tunnel every car can save six minutes at average for every drive while approximately 40 thousand cars pass through the tunnel every day. This represents an overall annual savings of approximately 90 thousand days for all the travellers;” stressed benefits of the Sitiny tunnel member of the Slovak Tunnel Builders Association (STA), Mrs Viktória Chomová of Dopravoprojekt Bratislava, at the press conference on Tuesday that handled also the trends and perspectives of this promising branch of highway construction.

Precondition would be a separate emergency route

However, the strongest argument in favour of tunnels building would be security. From security can be unwind the lower accident rate connected with savings of human lives or health. “Tunnel accidents are much more attractive than accidents on other kinds of roads, and therefore are much more talked about. Nevertheless, tunnels are safe, and complications mostly arise only when caused by the drivers who are not acquaint with traffic rules or do not know procedures that must be observed in case of extraordinary situation or event,” disproved the myth deeply rooted in public awareness, member of STA, Mr Miloslav Frankovský of Terraprojekt Bratislava, who also offered a short excursus to history of the underground construction worldwide and in Slovakia.

Road tunnels in Slovakia have been built after the fire in the Mont Blanc tunnel (11 611 m) ten years ago (1999). According to Chomová, tunnels in compliance with EU Directive of 2004 on minimal security requirements for tunnels longer than 500 m, must have an independent emergency exit. For example, Sitina has 5 crosswise connections between the tubes and a separate emergency exit. Branisko has a separate emergency gallery, which can be entered through marked routes at every 360m.

As the STA representatives stressed, the Slovak tunnels are being build in compliance with European security facilities requirements, reaching the maximum possible level. If any critical situation arises tunnel equipment helps to disclose it and enables to notify the service and rescue bodies immediately and organize the rescue action. Moreover, such kind of construction is equipped with signal lights, camera system and sufficient number of emergency exits.

In transport infrastructure of country with mountainous character like Slovakia have tunnels their irreplaceable position. Our experts in the area of underground construction are highly regarded, and projects realised in Germany, Slovenia, Syria or Arab Emirates testify to this fact. According to STA, it is in most cases Slovakia, where paradoxically, experts face misunderstanding and inadequate reactions. “As far as design, realisation or operation is concerned, tunnels are extraordinary demanding engineering constructions and don’t deserve negative reaction, which can possibly follow from misunderstanding and lack of information,” cannot conceal his disappointment chairman of the STA, Mr Róbert Turanský.

Records, primacies, priorities

According to STA there is presently 76 railway tunnels, 4 motorway and 1 road tunnel in Slovakia.

Who is behind and what he is preparing?

STA is a voluntary association of legal and natural persons working in the area of underground construction. The association supports activities focussed on the intensive and extensive utilisation of underground premises in the sphere of transport infrastructure, water management, energy, underground buried services or ecology constructions. With aim to provide space for handing over experience from the area of tunnel construction it organises workshop on Fire Protection Ventilation and Security of Transport Tunnels in the Doprastav, Bratislava on 18. 6. 2009.

June is special because of anniversary of two most important tunnels in Slovakia – Sitiny and Branisko. This is also a reason why the STA declared the period between 15 June and 15 July for Month of Tunnels with aim to increase awareness and correct information about such constructions. During this month would Slovak cities witness also travelling exhibition called the “10 Most” with photographs of our oldest (Lamač), longest (Branisko), shortest (Stratená), widest (Horelica), most discussed (Višňové), most original (Telgárt), most radically changed (under the castle), most expected (Bôrik), longest railway (Čremošniansky) or most up-to-date tunnel (Sitina). The event would start in Bratislava (Avion Shopping Park), than it will be moved to Žilina (Business Centre Max), later it will go to Košice and shall conclude it journey in Martin.

Photo – STA

  1. Tunnel Branisko
  2. Tunnel Sitina
  3. Lamač tunnel
  4. Tunnel Mont Blanc
  5. Slovak tunnel builders abroad
 
Autor: SF / Juraj Pokorný, Dátum 16.06.2009