MORE than 30 jet fans have been installed in the Kingsway Tunnel (Wallasey) to improve ventilation and safety for motorists.
The 36 fans – installed at a cost of £1.5m – are described by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as 'quieter and more efficient' than the previous 32-fan system that had come to end of their operational life.
Work on installation of jet fans in the Kingsway Tunnel (Wallasey) that aim to improve ventilation and safety (Image: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority) Located along the roof of the tunnel, the fans provide a critical function by keeping fresh air flowing through the tunnel and are reversible to help clear smoke and fumes in the event of an emergency.
The 3.8m long, 635kg fans also feature heat and vibration early detection sensors, linked to Mersey Tunnel’s maintenance systems to allow remote monitoring as an additional safety and efficiency improvement.
Supplied by specialist external contractors, they have been installed by the authority’s in-house maintenance team, which carried out the upgrade during the tunnel’s scheduled evening maintenance closures, meaning no additional disruption to tunnel users.
New jet fans that have been installed in the Kingsway Tunnel (Wallasey) that aim to improve ventilation and safety (Image: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority) Through increased energy efficiency, the new jet fans are also said to support the Combined Authority’s journey towards Net Zero.
As part of the upgrade approximately 1km of power and data cabling has been installed.
Wirral councillor Steve Foulkes, chair of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: "We are constantly striving to make sure that the Mersey Tunnels remain some of the safest tunnels of their kind in Europe for their age, and this latest investment is another commitment towards this.
Work on installation of jet fans in the Kingsway Tunnel (Wallasey) that aim to improve ventilation and safety (Image: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority) "The tunnels need continued investment to keep them open and up to modern safety standards.
"This work, alongside the £11m LED lighting scheme in the Queensway Tunnel, is also a big part of our push towards Mayor Steve Rotheram’s pledge to make our city region Net Zero by 2035.”
New jet fans in the Kingsway Tunnel (Wallasey) aim to improve ventilation and safety (Image: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority) The new jet fans are described by the authority as 'high temperature rated, allowing them to operate in an emergency at 300°C for two hours'.
The installation of the new fans follows on from the recently completed £11m LED lighting upgrade in the Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel.
Over the last 18 months, 1058 new LED lights, 100,000 metres of power cabling and 230 new electricity distribution boards have been installed in the Queensway, which aim to help reduce the tunnels carbon output by 220 tonnes (or 60%) each year and contribute towards Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s target to make the city region Net Zero by 2035.
New jet fans that have been installed in the Kingsway Tunnel (Wallasey) to improve ventilation and safety (Image: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority)
