Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – From 10:45 up to 11:10, the fire and evacuation exercise will occur at Sint-Annatunnel in Antwerp. There is an increased risk of fire since grinding and welding will shortly occur in the Pedestrian Tunnel.
This morning at approximately 10:45, the Sint-Annatunnel in Antwerp was closed until about 11:10 for a demonstration of a fire and evacuation procedure. The exercise was carried out by the Roads and Traffic Agency (AWV) because of anticipated fire risks in grinding and welding in the pedestrian tunnel.
This was done during the mornings after the peak traffic density in an effort to cause as little inconvenience as possible to the tunnel users. This exercise was necessitated by the possibility of fire resulting from grinding and welding, which is set to commence next week as the repair work in the Sint-Annatunnel is undertaken. On the right bank, escalator repair work started on January 18th.
Stefanie Nagels of AWV explained,
“These wooden stairs, which are over 90 years old, are impregnated with grease and oil, among other things. Part of the skeleton of the stairs is also made of wood. Sparks can fly away during welding and grinding work. This increases the risk of fire.”
The exercise was intended to teach contractor employees the avenues to escape in case of a fire incident. It has also had agreements with the fire brigade to ensure there is good coordination during emergencies.
“We do not want to delay tunnel users, which is why we are doing this exercise at a quieter time, after the morning rush hour. Security guards will provide the necessary explanations at the entrances. There may also be an exercise with users in the future, but we will not announce that in advance.”
What is the history of the Sint-Anna Tunnel renovation and fire risk?
The Sint-Annatunnel, a pedestrian and biking tunnel constructed on the section of a current parkway in the town of Antwerp, Belgium, was opened in 1928. Originally built of wood and famous for the wooden escalators that take passengers from the street to the platforms, the tunnel is in disrepair due to aged infrastructure.
New repairs on the escalators on the right bank were spearheaded on the 18th of January, while the grinding and welding will follow next week. These produce heat due to the wooden parts of the tunnel, which are saturated with grease and oil.
Fire safety measures and fire drills are part of the renovation that is set to be accomplished before March 17. It is still a crucial roadway in Antwerp that connects people; thus, there is a need to take good care of it for people’s lives.
