Road Tunnel Association to be formed

Bishop told Tunnels and Tunnelling that so far the membership of the RTOA has been restricted to representatives of each tunnel owner and their managing agents or companies, tunnel safety officers, tunnel managers and a number of honorary members who have served the RTOA previously. "The name change is to broaden membership, beyond just 'operators' and invite consultants/ experts in Tunnel related specialities and others with an interest in how tunnels in the UK and Eire are managed, to participate. We are also hoping to target more young members. We are not looking for commercial interest, those in sales of a particular product. Like the BTS the RTA aims to be a learned society."

Bishop added that there has been a desire to ensure that knowledge and experience in areas such as tunnel operation, tunnel safety, ventilation, training and qualification structure, asset management, M&E systems, tolling, among others is not lost to the association as people move out of the tunnel management industry.

Administrative details such as a new organisation badge and address, website changes, financial admin, and constitution amendments, as well as other documentation changes are required, after which it has been agreed that Tony Killen, head of asset management at Merseytravel will succeed Bishop as chair.

In other RTOA news, the association is also hosting an official visit for a delegation of tunnel designers, managers, and operational directors/executives from Shandong province in China, at the end of November. They are inviting the delegation to see how UK tunnels are run. Bishop added: "We are grateful for the support of Mersey Tunnels and Mouchel, in facilitating a technical visit."