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In the Neuhof tunnel on the A66, a truck damaged expensive technology on the ceiling, including many cameras. It will cost around one million euros. The closure of the tube towards Fulda has been lifted again.
Neuhof – Update from May 21st, 4:06 p.m.: As announced on Wednesday (May 20th), the closed Neuhofer A66 tunnel in the direction of Fulda was reopened today at around 4 p.m. The speed limit is 60 for the time being. This was announced by the Fulda branch of the federal Autobahn GmbH. 18 of 34 cameras in the tunnel were damaged by a truck on Wednesday morning.
“Video surveillance is part of the operationally relevant tunnel safety technology,” reported the spokesman for the Fulda branch of the federal Autobahn GmbH, Joachim Schmidt. It is intended to “ensure as complete a view as possible of the tunnel control center into the tunnel tube”.
Trucks cost 1 million euros in the A66 tunnel
The cameras that were still working were realigned early Thursday afternoon. “We are examining where a replacement needs to be made as soon as possible.” In order to ensure safety in the tunnel, regular inspection trips by the operational service should be carried out after it has been opened to traffic.
The fire alarm system as well as the smoke extraction and ventilation technology in the tunnel are still functional, emphasized the federal Autobahn GmbH. Emergency announcements from the tunnel control center are also possible, although 31 of 34 loudspeakers are damaged. These speakers also need to be replaced.
By June 4th, Corpus Christi, cameras should be installed where replacements are necessary. However, delivery times for new devices can be up to ten weeks. “Therefore, redundant cameras will be removed from the undamaged tunnel tube. In addition, there will be individual night-time closures in both tunnel tubes until Corpus Christi.”
The goal is to… Hesse day (June 12th to 21st) in Fulda to enable a top speed of 80 km/h again. “The fastest possible restoration of normal operations and the smooth flow of traffic in the tunnel are our top priority shortly before the Hessentag in Fulda,” says Julia Rös, head of the Fulda branch of the federal Autobahn GmbH. “No further closures of the tunnel tubes will be necessary during Hessentag.”
Nightly closures even after Hessentag
The federal Autobahn GmbH estimates the material damage to be at least 250,000 euros. The complete replacement of all damaged components with new parts and their installation will take several months.
According to the federal Autobahn GmbH, individual night-time closures will have to be set up again in the Neuhofer A66 tunnel after Hessentag. Together with the costs for the repeated necessary traffic safety, the total amount could amount to up to one million euros, it was concluded.
Update from May 20th, 4:57 p.m.: At a press conference, the federal Autobahn GmbH informed about the closure of the damaged A66 tunnel in Neuhof. As Julia Röß, head of the Fulda branch, announced, the tunnel in the direction of Fulda is not expected to be opened until tomorrow, Thursday (May 21st).
The release could possibly take place around 4 p.m., probably with a speed limit of 60 km/h. According to further information, 31 of 34 cameras on the 1.6 kilometer long tunnel route were damaged by the truck on Wednesday morning. 13 cameras were completely destroyed.
Truck damages almost all cameras in tunnel tube
Over the next few weeks there will be regular nightly closures for repairs. The amount of damage cannot yet be quantified. However, major property damage is to be expected. The damaged cameras and speakers were custom-made.
+++ 12.32 p.m.: There is still no way through the motorway tunnel near Neuhof in the direction of Fulda. The road remains closed as a result of the truck accident and traffic is being diverted, a police spokesman said when asked. It is currently unclear how long the closure will last.
Update from May 20th, 9:41 a.m.: After an accident in the A66 tunnel near Neuhof, the tube towards Fulda is still completely closed. The East Hesse police headquarters have just announced this and are asking all road users to follow the signs for the U47 diversion route – “and not the navigation systems”.
According to the officials, a 62-year-old was driving a car transporter loaded with several cars on the highway from Flieden towards Fulda around 5:20 a.m. “When the van entered the tunnel behind the Neuhof-Süd junction, a loaded car damaged parts of the tunnel’s ceiling technology,” it says.
A66 closed near Neuhof: truck damages tunnel technology
First report from May 20th, 7:14 a.m.: A truck apparently damaged the technology on the tunnel ceiling in the Neuhof tunnel on the A66 on Wednesday morning. The result: The tube in the direction of Fulda had to be completely closed. Just a few weeks ago, a car fire caused the tunnel to be closed.
Like the radio station FFH reported, the tunnel between the Neuhof-Süd and Neuhof-Nord junctions is currently closed. Accordingly, parts of the tunnel technology were damaged. A road user also describes that fans, lamps and other parts are hanging from the ceiling or are already lying on the road. Debris was also scattered on the street.
According to initial information, traffic is already backed up for around a kilometer from Flieden. Drivers are asked to avoid the area from Neuhof-Süd on the parallel country road. How long the closure will last and how severe the damage in the tunnel is is still unclear.
