Vegtilsynet (the Norwegian Road Administration) criticizes in a press release the Statens Vegvesen (Norwegian Public Roads Administration) for not carrying out the main inspection of rock safety in Western Norway.

Inspection of rock and rock protection in tunnels

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has not carried out main inspections of rock and rock safety in tunnels in the west, although there is a requirement that this type of inspection must be carried out.

In the rest of the country, major inspections have largely been carried out, but the inspections have not always been carried out before the deadline.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration found that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration:

• does not carry out the main inspection of rock and rock protection in all tunnels for at least a quarter of a year
• does not describe who is responsible for planning, carrying out and following up inspections of rock and rock safety in tunnels under 500 meters
• has not seen clear requirements for follow-up after the main inspection of rock and rock protection of tunnels
• does not follow up findings after main inspection in all investigated tunnels
• does not have an inspection plan for main inspections of rock and rock safety for all tunnels

The main inspections shall be carried out every quarter of a year and are a condition inspection. Therefore, not carrying out main inspections, or carrying them out too infrequently, can have the consequence that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration does not have an overview of the condition of the individual tunnel. This in turn can lead to stones falling from roofs and walls, so that dangerous situations arise for road users.

Background and goals

The aim of the audit was to investigate whether the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has and uses an adequate management system to prevent rockfall in tunnels.

In recent years, there have been several incidents of stone falling from roofs and walls in tunnels on national roads. The National Road Data Bank (NVDB) has registered 109 such incidents in the last ten years.

According to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration's guideline, inspections must "form the basis for operation and maintenance that provides a safe and efficient road system with safety and good regularity for road users".

https://kommunikasjon.ntb.no/pressemelding/inspeksjon-av-berg-og-bergsikring-i-tunneler?publisherId=17156958&releaseId=17923041

Photo and text (translated) from Vegtilsynet press release.