Skip to main content

Communications systems key to tunnel safety

Paul Ducker Systems (PDS), a sub-contractor to Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, has appointed Team Simoco to provide communication systems for the new A3 Hindhead road tunnel and the refurbishment of the A1 Hatfield road tunnel. Specialising in supplying transportation infrastructure for tunnels and road networks, PDS also provides solutions to metro, rail and airport operators, and the Hindhead and Hatfield road tunnels, near London, are the latest contracts to be won by the company. PDS has selecte
May 15, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Hindhead road tunnel.
Paul Ducker Systems (PDS), a sub-contractor to 1146 Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, has appointed Team Simoco to provide communication systems for the new A3 Hindhead road tunnel and the refurbishment of the A1 Hatfield road tunnel.

Specialising in supplying transportation infrastructure for tunnels and road networks, PDS also provides solutions to metro, rail and airport operators, and the Hindhead and Hatfield road tunnels, near London, are the latest contracts to be won by the company.

PDS has selected Team Simoco to design and implement an extensive communication system for the tunnels, with each requiring GSM mobile, Airwave, fireground, DAB, voice-break in and a dedicated PMR radio system.
Chief executive of Team Simoco, Ian Carr, says: “Both the Hindhead and Hatfield road tunnels are designed to offer vehicles more convenient and quicker journeys, but due to the high volumes of traffic that travel along these routes, it is imperative that the communication systems in place offer reliable and uninterruptable access in case of accidents or fires.

“Team Simoco has extensive experience of confined space radio engineering, leaky feeder technology and the specific signal propagation challenges of combining multiple radio services in enclosed environments such as tunnels. This expertise enabled us to work with PDS to design the best operational solution for the Hindhead and Hatfield tunnels.”

Located in County Surrey, between London and Portsmouth, the Hindhead twin-bore road tunnel is designed to remove traffic congestion from the A3 and the local road network. Work began on the project in 2007 and the tunnel is scheduled to open to traffic in summer 2011. The Hatfield road tunnel in Hertfordshire is also due to be reopened to traffic in the summer of 2011.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Balfour included on major UK Highways Agency framework contract
    November 7, 2014
    Balfour wins place on major UK Highways Agency road framework contract Balfour Beatty’s UK construction business has been appointed by the UK’s Highways Agency to a new collaborative framework contract for projects totalling more than US$3.95 billion (£2.5 billion). Under the framework arrangement, Balfour is one of five contractors that the agency can call upon to deliver individual projects worth between $160 million and $713 million (£100 million and £450 million) on Lot 3B of the Collaborative Del
  • Advances in tunneling machines coming to market
    November 19, 2015
    A diverse array of new tunnelling technologies will help boost productivity and cut project costs, while boosting quality - Mike Woof writes The worldwide market for tunnelling projects continues to be strong, with a series of major projects underway or planned for the future. These good market conditions have helped fuel research and development in new tunnelling equipment, designed to be more productive, more efficient and more reliable and able to deliver a higher quality of work. Drilling and blas
  • Tunnel technology improves driving safety
    February 14, 2012
    Tunnel technology advances will make driving through underground links considerably safer, writes Mike Woof
  • Qatar tunnel project benefits from sophisticated formwork
    March 7, 2018
    A sophisticated formwork solution has played an important part in the construction of a new road and rail tunnel in Qatar in the Middle East. The formwork system was supplied by ULMA, which supplied its equipment for the construction of the Lusail Boulevard Tunnel in Qatar. The new tunnel provides access to the new Lusail City Development, from the heart of Doha and will be a vital transport link for the planned 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament. The overall Lusail City Development, located 15km north of Do