On Sunday 13 October, the northbound Tyne Tunnel is set to close for a short time in order to carry out a compulsory safety training exercise. During this time, the southbound Tyne Tunnel will be bi-directional.
The northbound tunnel will close from 8pm on Saturday 12 October, and re-open again at approximately 5pm on Sunday.
The safety training exercise, which happens every four years, is a joint exercise between TT2 Limited, which operates the Tyne Tunnels, North and South Tyneside Councils, and the emergency services to ensure that the tunnels are safe in the event of an emergency.
The exercise will see TT2, the police, fire brigade and ambulance services dealing with a selection of ‘live’ scenarios in the tunnel, and North and South Tyneside Councils will coordinate emergency transport and rest centres for evacuated people.
Phil Smith, CEO of TT2 Limited, said: “Safety is our highest priority at the Tyne Tunnels, and occasionally this means that we must run scenarios as if they were real. This ensures that, should we be faced with an emergency, we are confident that all parties concerned are in the best position to deal with the situation safely.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to work closely with our clients at the North and South Tyneside Councils, and with the teams at the emergency services, so that they are familiar with the layout of the Tyne Tunnels.
“Our customers value our excellent safety standards, and appreciate that, very occasionally, these types of exercises are necessary.”
The northbound Tyne Tunnel will close from 8pm on Saturday 12 October, and re-open again at approximately 5pm on Sunday 13 October. During this time, the southbound Tyne Tunnel will be bi-directional.