On Saturday 7 September at 09.30-11.30, Statens vegvesen (the Norwegian Public Roads Administration) will hold a fire drill in the Åkrafjord tunnel.

This is a full-scale exercise in which the emergency services participated, together with the Swedish Road Administration. E134 in this area in Etne will be closed while the exercise takes place.

- It is a requirement in the tunnel safety regulations that we must have a fire drill. This is an important part of our ongoing work to ensure an efficient, safe and accessible road network, says practical tunnel manager Karoline Bakken Bråthen at the Norwegian Road Administration.

- We do this for the safety of road users; in order to be as well prepared as possible for real tunnel incidents. Part of the exercise is to use a smoke machine to simulate a fire in the tunnel. It will therefore be possible to see smoke in the area around the tunnel, she adds.

The 7,404 meter long Åkrafjord tunnel was opened on 15 July 2000. The tunnel is used by an average of 2,100 vehicles per day. This is called year-round traffic (ÅDT). Of this, 25 per cent, or 525, are long vehicles (heavy traffic).

source: Statens vegvesen pressemelding.