Overview
In 2007 Brinje tunnel operated by Hrvatske Autoceste d.o.o., was pronounced the safest tunnel among the tunnels included in the EuroTAP testing which covered 51 tunnels from all over Europe
EuroTAP (European Tunnel Assessment Programme) is one of eight tunnel safety testing projects €4.2 Million worth and supported by the European Commission in the value of €1.5 Million and includes eleven automobile clubs in ten European countries with the only automobile club outside the EU – the Croatian Automobile Club (HAK).
Brinje tunnel is a twin-tube tunnel located on the Mala Kapela tunnel - Žuta Lokva section of Zagreb - Split – Dubrovnik A1 motorway. The left tube is 1,542 m long and the right one 1,540 m. It was opened to traffic in 2004 and both tubes have been operational ever since. The speed limit is 100 km/h. The north portal is placed at 496 m above sea, and the south one at 495 m above sea. It includes two traffic lanes 3.5 m wide, two marginal strips of 0.35 m and an inspection lane of 0.9 m. It was built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) that proved adaptable to different geological conditions in which the tunnel route was laid.
Tunnel is equipped with the state of the art traffic surveillance and management system. The surveillance is conducted 24/7 from the Maintenance and Traffic Control Centre Brinje. It is equipped with video cameras that display the situation on monitors in MTCC and provide the possibility of automatic detection of congestion, driving in opposite direction, recording the number of vehicle, their movement and they also supply the accurate data to the traffic operator in order to obviate congestions. The system of variable traffic signals (warnings, restrictions) is introduced to provide information to drivers. In the event of incidents or broken down vehicles the drivers may also use the communication system (emergency phones) to contact the MTCC team. There are also safety recesses in the tunnel that are equipped with emergency phones. Both tubes have one lay-by for vehicles 40 m long and 3.5 m wide. Pedestrian passages (emergency escapes) are designed as a link between the two tubes and are placed at each 240 to 300 m. There are altogether 3 of them.