| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Erika Johnson 757-925-2584 erika.johnson@virginiadot.org |
HRO-007 Dec. 17, 2003 |
IMPROVEMENTS FOR HAMPTON ROADS TUNNELS
HAMPTON ROADS – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is moving forward on improving tunnel safety in the Hampton Roads region.
“As promised in October, VDOT has a plan of action on two critical issues that need immediate attention: repairing the waterline that is used for the fire protection system in the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel and bringing all fire hydrants into compliance at the Downtown and Midtown tunnels,” said VDOT Hampton Roads District Administrator Jane Wimbush.
Improving the fire suppression system at the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMMBT) and bringing all fire hydrants into compliance at the two Elizabeth River tunnels will cost approximately $4.4 million. While most repairs to the fire hydrants will be completed this month, all fire hydrants will be repaired by the end of February of next year and repairs to the MMMBT water line will be completed in 18 months.
While these repairs are under way, VDOT’s independent consultant, Earth Tech, continues its review of all VDOT tunnel facilities in the state, focusing on critical safety and fire protection systems. VDOT will have a statewide plan of action to improve tunnel safety based on Earth Tech’s recommendations by March of next year.
Wimbush added, “Safety is our top priority on the roadways and at our bridge and tunnel facilities. While VDOT has always been prepared with proper resources to assist fire departments to battle fires in the region’s tunnels, we are taking additional safety measures to make the tunnels as safe as possible.”
The plan of action follows:
Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel:
· VDOT will replace the waterline that is used in the fire protection system with a new stainless steel standpipe. The current waterline is prone to leak when high water pressure is used. The new steel pipe and other improvements, such as installing new fire pumps and water heaters in the north and south ventilation buildings as well as adding fire department connections at the north and south islands, will greatly improve the redundancy and reliability of the fire suppression system.
· The project is estimated to cost $4.2 million and will take approximately 18 months to complete.
· While the project is under design and construction, it is important to note that the tunnel has a reliable water supply for fire-fighting efforts.
Fire hydrants:
· As reported last October, 15 of the more than 100 fire hydrants at the Midtown and Downtown tunnels were not operational. Later this fall, an additional hydrant started to leak. Eight of the 16 hydrants have been repaired and the rest will be operational between this week and end of February of next year. The approximate cost of repairs is $192,500. The breakdown of repairs follows:
o Midtown Tunnel – eight of the nine hydrants that were not operational have been repaired. The remaining hydrant will be repaired this month. The Midtown Tunnel has a total of 35 hydrants. Approximate cost: $9,000
o Downtown Tunnel – Repairs are under way on seven hydrants that are not operational. An additional hydrant started leaking, raising the total from six to seven.
§ Four of those hydrants will be operational once VDOT repairs a waterline that feeds those hydrants. This project will be complete by end of February of next year, weather permitting. Approximate cost: $180,000.
§ The remaining three hydrants will be repaired this month. Approximate cost: $3,500.
“As promised in October, VDOT has a plan of action on two critical issues that need immediate attention: repairing the waterline that is used for the fire protection system in the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel and bringing all fire hydrants into compliance at the Downtown and Midtown tunnels,” said VDOT Hampton Roads District Administrator Jane Wimbush.
Improving the fire suppression system at the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMMBT) and bringing all fire hydrants into compliance at the two Elizabeth River tunnels will cost approximately $4.4 million. While most repairs to the fire hydrants will be completed this month, all fire hydrants will be repaired by the end of February of next year and repairs to the MMMBT water line will be completed in 18 months.
While these repairs are under way, VDOT’s independent consultant, Earth Tech, continues its review of all VDOT tunnel facilities in the state, focusing on critical safety and fire protection systems. VDOT will have a statewide plan of action to improve tunnel safety based on Earth Tech’s recommendations by March of next year.
Wimbush added, “Safety is our top priority on the roadways and at our bridge and tunnel facilities. While VDOT has always been prepared with proper resources to assist fire departments to battle fires in the region’s tunnels, we are taking additional safety measures to make the tunnels as safe as possible.”
The plan of action follows:
Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel:
· VDOT will replace the waterline that is used in the fire protection system with a new stainless steel standpipe. The current waterline is prone to leak when high water pressure is used. The new steel pipe and other improvements, such as installing new fire pumps and water heaters in the north and south ventilation buildings as well as adding fire department connections at the north and south islands, will greatly improve the redundancy and reliability of the fire suppression system.
· The project is estimated to cost $4.2 million and will take approximately 18 months to complete.
· While the project is under design and construction, it is important to note that the tunnel has a reliable water supply for fire-fighting efforts.
Fire hydrants:
· As reported last October, 15 of the more than 100 fire hydrants at the Midtown and Downtown tunnels were not operational. Later this fall, an additional hydrant started to leak. Eight of the 16 hydrants have been repaired and the rest will be operational between this week and end of February of next year. The approximate cost of repairs is $192,500. The breakdown of repairs follows:
o Midtown Tunnel – eight of the nine hydrants that were not operational have been repaired. The remaining hydrant will be repaired this month. The Midtown Tunnel has a total of 35 hydrants. Approximate cost: $9,000
o Downtown Tunnel – Repairs are under way on seven hydrants that are not operational. An additional hydrant started leaking, raising the total from six to seven.
§ Four of those hydrants will be operational once VDOT repairs a waterline that feeds those hydrants. This project will be complete by end of February of next year, weather permitting. Approximate cost: $180,000.
§ The remaining three hydrants will be repaired this month. Approximate cost: $3,500.
Page last modified: Dec. 17, 2003
