One in six European Tunnels fail EU Minimum requirements

Publication date: 26 April 2005

After seven years of tunnel testing, despite a general trend of improvements and the introduction of a European Union Directive, the automobile clubs, partners in the EuroTAP project, sponsored by the European Commission, still have their work cut out for them if all tunnels are to meet the minimum requirements in the medium term. One in six of the tunnels tested failed on this occasion.

Launched in January 2005, EuroTAP, the European Tunnel Assessment Programme has completed “Phase 1” of its inspections programme. 49 major tunnels located on highways important for transEuropean mobility in 14 European countries have been tested in line with criteria set down in the European Union’s Tunnel Directive adopted in April 2004. Two tunnels: the Markusberg Tunnel in Luxemburg and the Ottsdorf Tunnel in Austria, both rated “very good”, tied for first place in this year’s survey. Both tunnels clearly meet standards well in excess of those set down in the Directive.

However at the other end of the spectrum, the Roccaccia Tunnel in Italy finished in last place rated “very poor”. The two-tube 20 year old tunnel is in urgent need of technical refurbishment if it is to satisfy state-of-the-art safety requirements.

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