SAFETY ACROSS THE RIVER MERSEY

This article describes a tunnel safety upgrade project that took place on the Kingsway and Queensway tunnels crossing the River Mersey in the UK Faced with an aging infrastructure and a recent spate of fires in road tunnels in Europe, authorities pursued a tunnel safety upgrade program. For the Kingsway tunnel, three new cross passages using a precast concrete segmental lining in the section of tunnel under the river were constructed. An approach of self-rescue supported by passenger safety information cards and good signage, was used for the Kingsway Tunnel. With the Queensway Tunnel, an assisted-rescue philosophy was used which lead to the construction of safety refuges under the road deck. The refuges are designed to provide a two hour fire resistant structure providing shelter until rescue services could be available.