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TT2 gears up for traffic

Business commuters will soon be able to enjoy a speedier journey to work as the finishing touches to the Tyne’s £260m river crossing build up steam.

Before the new second tunnel becomes operational, a range of tests and checks must be carried out, not least of which is a full scale emergency exercise.

The emergency exercise, which took place over the weekend, aimed to replicate a serious emergency incident within the tunnel.

The new road tunnel is the first in the United Kingdom to be fitted with a Fixed Fire Suppression System, which releases a fine mist to contain fires, enabling safe exit for motorists andreduces the extent of any fire damage to the tunnel structure.

The system has been endorsed by the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and, once commissioned, will make the Tyne Tunnel the safest road tunnel in the country.

The new tunnel has been built as part of the £260m New Tyne Crossing project, which includes the full refurbishment of the 1967-built Tyne Tunnel.

Traffic is expected to be diverted into the new tunnel by the end of February 2011, at which point the original vehicle tunnel will be closed to allow the refurbishment works to take place.

Both tunnels are expected to be operational by the end of the year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .