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With tunnels being an integral part of transportation networks, increasing their life span is a challenge infrastructure owners face. The solution is to implement effective ventilation and fire safety systems to provide a comfortable environment for passengers and workers, reduce whole life costs and risks, and improve sustainability.

WSP is a recognized industry leader in the operational approach to the performance of transportation systems and networks. Through this approach we:

  • Enable the safe operation of transportation networks through a ‘whole system’ approach using the right combination of people, process, human factors, systems, technology and infrastructure.
  • Establish the operational vision for a scheme from a detailed understanding of the required outcomes.

Our approach delivers the key operational elements and functions, central to the safe and effective management of traffic across the whole route, including the tunnel and surrounding roads. We deliver the key operational documents and protocols including the Concept of Operations, Tunnel Operations Plan, Minimum Operating Requirements, Maintenance Strategies, Emergency Management plans and Incident Plans.

We work closely with stakeholders to develop the required range of routine and non-routine traffic operations scenarios to be considered in the scheme’s development. We also develop innovative solutions to mitigate against human factors which are primarily associated with anxiety and the unfamiliar road environment.

 

Our tunnel systems specialist services include:

Tunnel safety

Delivering a safe tunnel environment requires integration of all aspects of the technical design, including lighting, ventilation, communications, technology, mechanical engineering and public health services. It is vital that the tunnel provides an environment that can sustain life across a full range of operating scenarios via its infrastructure and technology systems provision. We have successfully refined the proven hazard log methodology that underpins the development of smart motorways and applied it to tunnel projects, developing the risk framework for decision support in road tunnels. This approach assesses collective risk, at the overall system level, allowing tunnel owners, designers and operators to identify and focus on managing the key risks that have the most significant impact on the safety of the system.

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Tunnel Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway in Singapore

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H-3 highway in Honolulu, HI, USA

Fire life safety

WSP has extensive capability for tunnel fire safety engineering across all sectors, including rail and road tunnels. Our wide range of expertise includes developing fire strategies for life safety and asset protection, risk analysis, fire and evacuation modelling, developing active and passive fire engineering measures and witnessing fire performance materials assessment for compliance.

Tunnel ventilation

WSP has a strong global team of tunnel ventilation specialists. Our engineers have expertise in quantifying the ventilation requirements of various types of tunnel networks and have developed and adopted a range of analysis and design tools and methods to assess and optimize aerodynamic and thermodynamic performance.

We operate through all project stages, including Feasibility and Concept Design; Reference and Detailed Design; development of specifications; on-site commissioning and handover; operation and management of facilities; and refurbishment commissions. By combining our expertise of ventilation analysis, design, and asset appraisals, we reduce the whole of life cost and risk to the project, as well as improve the sustainability outcomes for our clients.

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Midtown Tunnel Corridor Project - ©2015 SKW Constructors

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Glenwood Canyon I-70 Tunnel, Colorado, USA

Tunnel lighting

WSP has one of the largest teams of lighting engineers, featuring global specialists in tunnel lighting. Lighting, both inside and on the approaches of tunnels, is important because of the way our eyes adapt to different lighting levels. We identify the varying lighting needs so that our lighting systems are designed to adjust with the user journey, making them feel safe and comfortable on approach and once inside the tunnel. Our lighting designs are energy efficient, using the latest technologies in addressable systems and light sources. We also consider the environmental impacts of the tunnel on its surroundings, the impact of the tunnel interior on the equipment used and how the final design minimises light pollution on the local environment in the vicinity of the portals.

Tunnel controls and communications

Tunnel communications infrastructure are the hidden systems that keep the tunnel running. We work with our lighting, power and drainage teams to develop solutions that maintain the tunnel operation without impacting tunnel journeys. WSP has delivered control and communications infrastructure designs from concept all the way through delivery to handover to operations, interfacing with a broad range of systems and suppliers.  In partnership with our tunnel fire and ventilation experts, we have experience in safety critical ventilation, drainage management and control systems. We review how these are controlled in the event of tunnel fires and incidents, keeping air pollution in the tunnel environment under control and containing drainage pollution incidents.

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MTR South Island Line


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Frequently asked questions

What are tunnel systems and why are they critical to tunnel safety and operations?

Tunnel systems comprise the mechanical, electrical, control and safety systems that enable safe, reliable and efficient tunnel operation. These include ventilation, fire and life safety, lighting, controls and communications. Effective tunnel systems are essential to protect passengers and workers, manage incidents, reduce whole-life risk and support long-term asset performance.

How does WSP approach tunnel systems design?

WSP applies a whole-system, operationally led approach to tunnel systems design. We integrate people, processes, human factors, technology and infrastructure to establish a clear operational vision and deliver systems that perform safely across routine and non-routine operating scenarios. This approach ensures tunnel systems support safe traffic management across the tunnel and surrounding network.

What tunnel safety and fire life safety services does WSP provide?

WSP delivers comprehensive tunnel safety and fire life safety engineering for road and rail tunnels. Our services include hazard identification, risk analysis, fire and evacuation modelling, development of active and passive fire protection measures, and verification of system performance to meet regulatory and operational requirements.

How does WSP design tunnel ventilation systems?

WSP’s tunnel ventilation specialists design and optimize ventilation systems to manage air quality, smoke control and heat during normal operations and incident scenarios. Using advanced aerodynamic and thermodynamic modelling tools, we assess performance across all project stages—from feasibility through commissioning and operation—while minimizing whole-life cost, risk and energy consumption.

How do tunnel control and communications systems support operations?

Tunnel control and communications systems enable real-time monitoring, coordination and incident response. WSP designs integrated control systems that interface with ventilation, fire safety, drainage and lighting systems, ensuring safe operation during normal conditions and emergency events while maintaining traffic flow and environmental control.

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