Introduction

The Tunnel Design & Safety Consultation Group was formed to ensure effective design, construction and operation within the context of safety. The group is made up of representatives from the following groups.

1. The NRA (The Administrative Authority)
2. The Garda Traffic Corp
3. The Limerick County and City Authorities.
4. The Emergency Services.
5. Direct Route Limerick Ltd. (The PPP Co)
6. Capita Symonds (The Designer)

 One of the remits of the group is to confirm the basic design and operating procedures in the context of fully integrated systems for traffic management, signs and signalling, communication, information, plant monitoring and control.

Standards

The Tunnel shall be built and operated in accordance with the European Union Legislation Directive 2004/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on Minimum Safety Requirements for the Tunnel in the Trans-European Road Network as well as BD78/99 Part 9 Section 2 of Volume 2 Highway Structures Design. 

TDSCG Requirements

The topics discussed and agreed by the Tunnel Design & Safety Consultation Group are the following:

1. Planning, Safety, General Design Considerations.
2. Operation Classification of Safety Facilities for the Road User.
3. Geometric Design.
4. Ventilation.
5. Tunnel Lighting.
6. Drainage.
7. Fire Safety Engineering.
8. Traffic Control, Communications and Information Systems.
9. Plant Monitoring and Control.
10. Electrical Power Supply and Distribution.
11. Service Buildings and Plant Rooms.
12. Tunnel Commissioning, Handover and Operational Documentation.
13. Tunnel Operation and Maintenance.