The M85 tunnel disaster management exercise was a success

A successful simulation of the overtaking accident in the tunnel of the M85 motorway has been carried out, according to a Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium statement.

As our newspaper has previously reported reported earlier, trial operations are currently underway in the pair of tunnels to be operated by Magyar Koncessziós Infrastruktúra Fejlesztő Zrt. prior to handover. One of the most spectacular elements of this was the accident simulation carried out in cooperation with the tunnel operator, the disaster management authorities, the police and the ambulance service.

Passenger entrapment, gas oil and smoke also had to be managed

According to information received from MKIF, in the modelled situation, a van and a tanker carrying gas oil collided in the tunnel's exit to the border, in a so-called overtaking accident. As a result of the collision, the vehicles came to a standstill occupying both lanes of the tunnel passage. The driver of the tanker abandoned his vehicle and reported the accident from the emergency booth. The 7 occupants of the van suffered injuries, as a result of which, according to the scenario of the exercise, they were unable to leave the vehicle.

An additional challenge in the simulation was that the front end and tank of the tanker carrying the dangerous goods were damaged, causing gas oil to leak into the tunnel and the engine compartment to smoke heavily. The latter triggered the fire mode and the ventilation system was activated.

An automatic tunnel closure was triggered after the accident was detected. During the simulation, the participants were tasked with the complete emergency response, which was ultimately successful.

Tunnel expected to be opened in December

In the report of ÉKM, it was stressed that the aim of the exercise was to coordinate the joint work of the tunnel operator, the disaster management, the police and the ambulance service, and to make the accident response process as fast and efficient as possible. "The test is necessary for the issuance of the tunnel's operating permit and the authorisation to place the tunnel in service," the statement said.

The opening and commissioning of the 780 m tunnel of the M85 motorway is expected to take place in December.