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

  • 3i buys SRL Traffic Systems
    December 7, 2021
    London-listed investment company 3i has a 92% controlling stake in SRL, based in England.
  • Emovis for Mont Blanc
    May 13, 2025


    Mont Blanc Motorways and Tunnel - ATMB - will have free-flow tolling under a 10-year contract awarded to Emovis, a subsidiary of Abertis Mobility Services.

    Emovis will convert 58km of the A40 motorway in France into a free-flow tolling system the is set to be operational by spring 2027, replacing the current toll plazas. Five bidirectional toll gantries will be installed along the route between the towns of Sallanches and Annemasse.

  • Consultation soon for Vancouver area’s Massey Tunnel replacement
    September 19, 2019
    The Canadian province of British Columbia could put options for a Massey Tunnel replacement out to consultation late this year or early next. A statement from the BC ministry of transportation and infrastructure said the government is in discussions with various stakeholders about which options it will put out for consultation. Whatever option is chosen to replace the ageing four-lane Massey Tunnel – be it a bridge or another tunnel – it will be will be either six or eight lanes, according to the gove
  • Bentley Systems expanding product range and operations
    March 20, 2019
    Bentley pushes ahead with acquisitions and partnerships Software specialist Bentley Systems is expanding its range of software products both through key acquisitions and in-house developments, as well as developing its partnerships with other firms. Two firms Bentley has bought are UK company Legion (see box) which is a leading provider of advanced pedestrian modelling software. The other acquisiation is the Swedish company Agency9, which offers city-scale digital twin cloud services that will help enabl