:: Croatia Blog ::

The Croatian tunnel Brinje, located in the A1 Zagreb – Split motorway is the best tunnel in Europe in 2007! This top recognition for the 1540-metre-long twin tunnels was won in a field of 51 other tunnels covered by the EuroTAP project testing which this year pooled 12 national automobile clubs from 11 European countries. The recognition of the Croatian tunnel, opened in 2004, is all the greater because Croatia is the only non-EU member encompassed by the testing.

A total of 51 tunnels were tested across Europe. 18 tunnels received a mark of very good, 11 good and 12 satisfactory, while 10 tunnels did not earn a passing grade.

The Brinje tunnel was opened in 2004, the total value of the investment being 36 million euros. It is equipped with the latest system for the 24-hour control and regulation of traffic, video cameras, a system that automatically detects a stoppage in traffic and the use of lighted road signs to inform drivers. It also has a developed communication system in the event of an accident, an automatic fire detector and fire alarms along the length of the entire tunnel and a number of other solutions and advantages that increase passenger safety and driving pleasure. Croatia has a total of 42 kilometres of tunnels on its motorways of which 11 are over a kilometre in length.

The closest “competitor” to the Brinje tunnel in this test was the German tunnel of Spreebogen opened last year in the Berlin Mitte district.

EuroTAP (European Tunnel Assessment Programme) is one of a total of eight tunnel safety research projects, worth 4.2 million euros and supported by the European Commission with 1.5 million €.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?