Wednesday, July 3, 2019 - 10:11 Joe Garcia
AFTER A 5-YEAR YAWN

Is there light at the end of the multi-million pound airport tunnel?

Entangled in all kinds of problems over many years, from a major legal battle and row with Spanish contractors, to the actual termination by the previous government of the tunnel contract in 2011, there is now renewed expectation that by the beginning of next year, there will be more than hope that the tunnel and associated roadworks will have finally reach completion.

But there must be caution at all times with this troublesome project.

After a 5-year yawn, it was in 2016 when the new government and the OHL contractor reached an agreement which led to the paralysed works being revived - and 'November 2018' pencilled in as the completion date. But nothing happened.

Now, there are great expectations that the tunnel and associated works will be ready in the first quarter of next year! When the new deal was signed between the government and OHL, the government said: "This settlement therefore provides Government and the taxpayer with the certainty of a completion date and also with certainty of cost." In fact, having originally contracted to pay OHL £30 million by the then government in 2008, OHL will now receive a total sum of no more than £24 millions.

However, the Government was not too sure about what could develop, given the experiences of the past, and decided to improve its current position by obtaining bank guarantees for a total of £37.1 million to ensure OHL's performance of the works, said the Government at the time, adding that it would also be able to pursue OHL for further sums if they failed to deliver.

The tunnel, which cuts across the edge of the eastern end of the runway, has been deemed to be an essential part of a new road structure.

Apart from the actual tunnel underneath the runway, two roundabouts are due to be built one near the frontier entry point and another in Devil's Tower Road beyond the new tunnel entry and exit.

The airfield traffic arrangements as they stand today, such as having a main roadway crossing the runway, have contributed to the airport being regarded internationally as one of the world's most dangerous.

But given the excellent procedures in place by the RAF and the Gibraltar Defence Force, this has been a very safe airfield, taking in both commercial and military air traffic - and forever increasing road traffic.

What is being built is a dual carriageway, for vehicular traffic, motorcycles and pedestrians.

The question is being asked if both vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be removed from the present road that runs across the runway.

Indeed, some peripheral issues need to be thrashed out, stemming from the Government's preferred option that pedestrians continue to cross the runway road.

This point of contention will need to be resolved before eventual completion. Will both vehicular and pedestrian traffic be barred from using the present road that runs across the runway? The view that has long gained weight in military circles is that all traffic should cease to use the runway road once the airport tunnel is operational.

Otherwise, the MOD would have to retain present services on a 24-hourly basis at each end of the runway road, as well as other services, all of which may not be cost effective, as a viable alternative will be in place. The runway road should remain available only for emergency services as exit and entry points to the airfield, if and when required.

Altenative ideas have emerged, such as that there should be a bus shuttle service, but such services would not remove safety considerations. The MOD could be right when it says that all traffic should be conveyed in and out of Gibraltar via the new airport tunnel and related road arrangements.That's why the airport tunnel is being built! As being planned, the new Gibraltar entry and exit road will be that of Devil's Tower Road, up to the junction with Eastern Beach Road. At that point there will be a large roundabout. The main road will then U-turn to the North through the site known as the Aerial Farm, passing parallel to Eastern Beach Road but behind the ex-Mediterranean Hotel building, and then passing under the tunnel at the Eastern end of the runway.

Once it emerges from the tunnel on the north side of the runway the new road will run parallel to the frontier, passing under the air terminal fly-over section. It will then branch into two, with one road leading to the loop and the frontier, and another leading to the Air Terminal and part of Winston Churchill Avenue, up to where the present northern traffic barrier stands. The moot point remains if pedestrians should be allowed to cross the perilous runway road.If you pushed them hard, the MOD are likely to make the point that the whole area in question is a military airfield.

Meanwhile, a Bill for an Act to amend the Civil Aviation Act is before Parliament. It will determine which part of the airfield is civil and which is military.

03-07-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR