Highways Agency

Ensuring Safety

In managing one of the country's most high profile and busiest parts of the national road network on behalf of the Highways Agency, the safety of our customers, our staff and the infrastructure is of paramount importance to us. The following are therefore examples of systems and procedures we have in place to ensure this:

• an ongoing schedule of maintenance to the bridge and tunnel structures
• regular monitoring of safety equipment
• regular update and refresher training for our staff
• automatic fire detection system in the tunnels
• a leaflet for all customers specifically on safe driving in tunnels*
• a Public Address system to communicate with customers in the tunnels or at the Plazas
• CCTV's monitoring throughout the Crossing
• emergency telephones located at 50 metre intervals throughout both tunnels, and at 120 metre intervals on lane one of the QEII bridge, with a direct link to our Control Room
• a direct link from our Control Room to the Emergency Services which bypasses the 999 number
• a system of receiving advanced notice of severe weather conditions in order to 'pre-treat' the carriageway surface and approach roads to prevent freezing occurring
• all vehicles carrying Dangerous Goods are checked vigorously prior to being escorted through the tunnels separately from normal traffic
• abnormal loads and, in exceptional circumstances certain types of other vehicle, are escorted though the tunnel separately in the interests of safety to other road users
• immediate response for vehicle recovery plus removal of debris and speed of repair to damage or defects
• regular security check patrols across all of our site
• contingency plans which are regularly reviewed, tested and updated together with the Emergency Services, the Highways Agency and our staff.

* If you would like a copy of this leaflet it is available in the publications section of this scheme website.