Highway B 294 - Tunnels Schlossberg and Kirchberg

Specialist Planning: Technical Equipment for Road Tunnels

The 1,840 m long tunnel Kirchberg and the 844 m long tunnel Schlossberg are located along the federal highway B 294 and are part of the Schiltach ring road. They were put into operation as oncoming traffic tunnels in the year 1991. Both tunnels are supplied via the existing central operations building located on the east side of the tunnel Kirchberg and in a south-west direction in front of the southern portal of the tunnel Schlossberg. The combined operations and air exhausting centre, which is required to set up the switchboard technology and the axial exhaust fans, is located approximately in the middle of the tunnel Kirchberg tunnel, from which an exhaust air chimney vents to the outside.

Based on the fact that the existing tunnel equipment is no longer suitable and doesn’t meet the current technical requirements, both tunnels will be completely renovated during ongoing traffic. In addition, two rescue tunnels with four emergency exits from the tunnel, an additional exit to the outside as well as several walk-in emergency call boxes will be retrofitted. One planning focus is the development of a processing concept with the aim of reducing closure times, because the traffic has to be routed through the city centre of Schiltach and through the tunnel Schlossberg during the closure of the tunnel Kirchberg.

For the technical equipment of road tunnels and their operation, the RABT 2006 or its follow-up rule EABT-80/100 contains guidelines, principles, instructions and criteria, which also apply to the equipment of the tunnels Schlossberg and Kirchberg. Due to the length of the structure and its proximity to one another (tunnel chain), the safety standards in this project are particularly high.

ZPP was commissioned by the Regional Council of Freiburg with the processing of the HOAI service profile “Technical Equipment” according to §§ 53 - 56, service phases 1 (basic evaluation), 2 (preliminary planning), 3 (conceptual planning), 5 (execution planning) and 6 (preparation for awarding contracts).

The extended technical traffic equipment, which has to be provided according to RABT, will be supplemented by additional sign gantries and traffic sign carriers (including WVZ) in the tunnel aprons and at upstream junctions for the purpose of integration into the higher-level and inner-city network. Furthermore, the planning of an overarching and path-breaking yellow signage is taking place.

Both tunnels will also receive the complete operational and safety equipment according to RABT: an emergency call system, a video surveillance, tunnel radio, a loudspeaker system, an orientation lighting and escape route marking, guidance devices and elements for visual guidance, fire alarm systems, firefighting devices (DEA), a drainage pumping station, LED lighting systems in the tunnel, in the aprons, and on the operations buildings, emergency lighting, energy supply (medium voltage, low voltage, UPS supply), lightning protection and surge protection systems, air conditioning systems as well as drinking and wastewater and sanitary equipment in the operations buildings as well as a control and automation technology with connection to the higher-level integrated control centre.