PAARL – A controlled hazardous load simulation exercise took place at the Huguenot Tunnel’s North Bore on Wednesday (10 September) evening into the early hours of Thursday (11 September).
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) confirmed they took the lead on conducting the simulation exercise. The goal was to test their emergency preparedness in the event of an incident that involves a hazardous load inside the tunnel.
According to Randall Cable, Sanral’s Provincial Head for the Western Cape, they used an empty certified hazardous load vehicle that was escorted and stopped inside the tunnel to mimic an incident.
“Non-combustible smoke-generating devices were used to create reduced visibility conditions and a realistic emergency environment for tunnel operations personnel and participating emergency services.”
Cable says: “The exercise evaluated emergency response procedures, communication systems, interagency coordination, traffic-control measures, emergency access, evacuation procedures, responder decision-making and the readiness of tunnel emergency systems and equipment. Fire and Rescue Services, Law Enforcement, medical responders and tunnel operations personnel participated in the response.”
ALSO READ: Huguenot Tunnel closure causes widespread traffic disruption across Western Cape
All safety measures were in place during the simulation, which was conducted under controlled conditions with safety and standard operating procedures in place. Sanral also made it clear that no actual “hazardous substance or uncontrolled ignition was introduced at any stage”.
Wynand Els, Drakenstein Municipality’s Manager for Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management, says the simulation was a success. “Drakenstein Municipality confirms that our Fire and Rescue Services took part in a controlled simulation exercise in the Huguenot Tunnel on Wednesday night 9 September, into the early hours of Thursday morning 10 September. The exercise was concluded successfully.”
The North Bore also known as the North Bound tunnel is situated right next to the South Bound which is currently in use for traffic. The future plan is to upgrade the North Bound tunnel so that traffic can use it, thus making the Huguenot Tunnel a four lane highway.
In October 2024 Barbara Creecy, National Minister of Transport visited the North Bound tunnel together with Sanral’s former chief executive officer Reginald Demana, Western Cape MEC for Mobility Isaac Sileku as well as the Executive Mayor of Drakenstein, Stephen Korabie.
To get the North Bound tunnel operated will cost the government R4,5 billion. It was said during the visit back then that upgrade work would take about three years to be completed, making the deadline around October 2027.
