Austroads Guide to Road
Tunnels
Development and overview of content
L J Louis
FIEAust CPEng RPEQ
Content of presentation
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Introduction
Austroads and ARRB
Process of development
Consultation
Overall content
Current status of the Guide
Future
Introduction
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Background
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Austroads – who are they?
Les Louis
Intent of presentation
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Reason for the Guide
Stakeholders
Explain the consultation undertaken
Discuss the content and rationale
Explain the status of the document and its
applicability
Provide information on providing feedback
Austroads
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Membership:
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Six state and two territory road authorities
C’Wealth Dept of Infrastructure, Transport
and Regional Development
Australian Local Government Association
New Zealand Transport Agency
Austroads
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Role of Austroads:
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Expert advice to Government
Facilitating collaboration between road
agencies
Promoting harmonisation, consistency and
uniformity in road and related operations
Undertaking strategic research
Promoting improved and consistent
practice by road agencies
ARRB
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Formerly the Australian Road Research Board
Created by Austroads members at the time
(current shareholders)
Government owned, independently run, notfor-profit research organisation
Undertakes technical and strategic research
for Austroads and its members
Engaged by Austroads to produce this Guide
Need for Guide
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Major expenditure by Austroads
members on tunnels
Lack of an agreed national technical
standard
Provide a source of information based
on current knowledge
Need for Guide - Issues
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Uncertain structural design standards
Questionable geometric safety standards
Poor attention to detail (e.g. leaks)
High maintenance requirements
High variability in safety standards and
systems (e.g. spacing of escape doors)
Variable environmental requirements
Incorrect volumetric land acquisition
Purpose of the Guide
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Provide high level guidance to those making
decisions in the planning, design, operation and
maintenance of new road tunnels in Australia & NZ.
To be used by
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Engineers and technical specialists in tunnel technology
working on the planning, design and operation of road
tunnels
Proponents of road tunnel solutions
Senior decision makers (in an overview role)
Regulators
Users of this Guide will be able to determine
standards for road tunnel design and operation
acceptable to Austroads members.
Process of Development
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Tunnel Technology Review Panel
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Literature Review – Australia, NZ, PIARC, UK,
Norway, Japan, USA
Learnings from previous projects
Significant input from:
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Drawn from Austroads members – all States, ARRB,
C’wealth, NZ, LG represented
Australasian Tunnelling Society (ATS)
Australian Tunnel Operators Group
Consultation with industry specialists – Fire and
Rescue, Consultants
Specialist input including some writing
Process of Development
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Drafts written
Reviewed by Panel
Comments from Austroads Members
Comments from ATS, ATOG, AFAC, CNI
Revised Drafts and further review
Review by Arnold Dix (Consultant and
member of PIARC Committees on tunnels)
Further drafts and review
Final versions approved
Consultation
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Input from a wide cross section of
industry –
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ATS
ATOG
AFAC
City North Infrastructure (CNI) - Brisbane
Robert Bertuzzi
Arnold Dix
Laerdal Norway road tunnel – 24.5km
Overall Structure of the Guide
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The Guide is in three parts:
Part 1: Introduction to Road Tunnels
 Part 2: Planning, Design and
Commissioning
 Part 3: Operation and Maintenance
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Part 1: Introduction to Road
Tunnels - Scope
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Provides overview of requirements . . Details in the
other two parts
Gives guidance on the planning process to ensure
that all of the necessary factors affecting the design,
construction, maintenance and operation of the
tunnel are considered
Covers those matters that have a significant impact
on the strategic planning of a tunnel solution . . .
Part 1: Scope (cont.)
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Emphasis placed on risk analysis and management
Introduces process to establish the Fire Safety
requirements
Discusses the effects of different construction
methods, operational factors and maintenance needs
that affect the details of the tunnel dimensions,
equipment and facilities required.
Part 1: Contents
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6.
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Introduction
Road Tunnel Implementation Process
General Planning Requirements
Regulatory Requirements
Traffic Considerations
Structural Design Considerations
Geometric Design Considerations . . .
Part 1 – Contents (cont.)
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Geotechnical Considerations
Drainage, Water and Flood Protection
Functional Safety and Operations
Environmental Considerations
Construction Methods
Commentary 1 - Types of tunnel construction
Part 2: Planning, Design and
Commissioning - Scope
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Sets out Austroads expectations for
appropriate design
Discusses expected approach to the design of
the elements of the tunnel project . . and
defines/refers to acceptable standards
This document is intended to establish the
benchmark for tunnel planning and design in
Australia and New Zealand
Part 2 - Scope
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This Part does not deal with the
refurbishment of existing tunnels nor the
retro-fitting of components to existing
tunnels
Describes the commissioning phase
Tunnels are evolving and therefore this is not
intended to be an exhaustive treatment of
road tunnels.
Part 2: Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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11.
Introduction
General Design Requirements
Structural Design
Geometric Design
Pavement Design
Environmental Considerations
Drainage design
Fire safety
Ventilation design
Lighting design
Electrical Supply design . . .
Part 2: Contents (cont.)
12. Design for Monitoring and Control
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.4
Operations Management & Control Systems (OMCS)
Tunnel Control Centre
Communications System
Plant Management and Control
13.1
13.2
13.3
13.4
13.5
13.6
General
Design and Layout
Heating, Air-conditioning and Ventilation
Floor Loading
Lightning Protection
Building Security and Fire Protection
13. Services Buildings and Plant Rooms
14. Construction Issues
15. Tunnel Commissioning
Appendix A Horizontal Curves & Sight Distance.
Part 2 – some issues
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Design life of components
Concrete – sprayed, unreinforced, fibre
reinforcing
Design fire
Transport of combustible liquids
Dispersion of vitiated air from portals
External air quality
Commissioning requirements
Part 2 – some issues
(continued)
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Level of sophistication required for
control systems and electrical
requirements for regional tunnels and
low traffic tunnels
How many “bells and whistles”?
Live loading above the tunnel on the
surface
3-lane road tunnel with permanent rockbolt and
shotcrete support under construction
Courtesy: Dr Douglas Maconochie
Part 3: Operation and
Maintenance - Scope
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Sets out operational requirements of the systems
described in detail in Parts 1 and 2
Describes the protocols required for interaction and
coordination of the various authorities who are
stakeholders in the operation of the tunnel
Sets the performance standards for the operation and
maintenance of the facility as well as providing
guidelines for operation of the various systems
including the manuals and operating procedures
required.
Part 3: Contents
1.
2.
3.
Introduction
General operation& Maintenance requirements
Operations
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.
5.
6.
7.
Objectives
Methodology
Traffic Management
Incident Management
Operational Performance
Maintenance
Human Factors
Training
Environment
Current Status
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Part 1 – published
July 2010
Current Status
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Part 2 - Published
November 2010
Current Status
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Part 3 - Published
August 2010
Current Status
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Now the adopted guide for all State
road authorities
Individual authorities may produce
supplementary guidelines
Qld: Road Planning and Design Manual,
Volume 3 – Guide to Road Tunnels
Qld Guide to Road Tunnels
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Will adopt Austroads Guide with
supplementary requirements e.g.
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Ramps (e.g. cross section)
Cross section – e.g. shoulder widths
Specific structural requirements (e.g. lining
reinforcement)
Specific requirements for bus ways
To be developed this year
Future
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Proposed Workshops (ARRB) – 2012
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One day seminar format
Proposed for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne
Austroads welcomes feedback
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Corrections
Additions
New information
Send to michael.tziotis@arrb.com.au
Summary
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The intention of Austroads is that this
publication will provide for uniformity of
practice in Australia and New Zealand
The guidance provided in this edition is
general in many areas . . Due to rate of
change of technology
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Not a text book on tunnels . . Unlike
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Norwegian guide
FHWA 2010
But does take position on some issues . . .
Summary
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It is not intended to provide any form of
substitute for the special expertise that
is needed to prepare effective and
efficient working designs for a road
tunnel