Javorova Kosa Tunnel

Tunnel portal, variable traffic signs indicating traffic flow direction and speed limit enforced are visible at the tunnel entrance and to the side of the road
Javorova Kosa Tunnel

Javorova Kosa Tunnel (Croatian: Tunel Javorova Kosa) is one of the most significant structures on the Croatian A6 motorway route. It is 1,490 metres (4,890 ft) long and consists of two tunnel tubes. It is located between Vrbovsko and Ravna Gora interchanges. The tunnel is tolled within the A6 motorway closed toll collection system. There are no other toll plazas related to use of the tunnel.[1]

Construction

Javorova Kosa Tunnel was designed by Inženjersko projektni zavod and its construction was started by Spie Batignolles and Mediteran Union Tunel. The construction works contract was cancelled in 2001, with 232 metres (761 ft) of the tunnel left to excavate. The works were resumed by Konstruktor and STRABAG AG in 2002 after a new contract was awarded to them.[2] Konstruktor completed the construction by June 2003.[3][4] The tunnel was excavated using the New Austrian Tunneling method.[5]

Construction of the tunnel was hindered by low air temperatures, dropping to −32 °C (−26 °F). This was especially problematic as the concrete plant used for the works was 18 kilometres (11 mi) away. Later, during execution of the secondary tunnel tube lining, the tunnel caved in due to a hydraulic failure of surrounding soil, caused by considerable inflow of meltwater. The failure affected a 6-metre (20 ft) section of the tunnel, and 400 cubic metres (14,000 cu ft) of rock and soil had to be removed to remedy the situation. The incident, however, caused no delay of completion schedule.[6]

Portal cover

Javorova Kosa Tunnel is separated from Podvugleš Tunnel by 30 metres (98 ft) of motorway.[7] In order to avoid occurrence of rapidly changing pavement conditions for traffic transiting from one of the tunnels to the other, a translucent cover was executed to protect the route between the tunnels. The cover is 66.18 metres (217.1 ft) long by 45 metres (148 ft) wide. It is supported by three rows of 11 metres (36 ft) tall concrete columns. The cover is designed to permit ventilation of the tunnels and use of emergency exits.[8]

Traffic volume

Traffic is regularly counted and reported by Autocesta Rijeka–Zagreb, operator of the A6 motorway and the tunnel, and published by Hrvatske ceste. Substantial variations between annual (AADT) and summer (ASDT) traffic volumes are attributed to the fact that the motorway carries substantial tourist traffic to Istria and Kvarner Gulf resorts. The traffic count is performed using analysis of toll ticket sales.[9]

Javorova Kosa Tunnel traffic volume
Road Counting site AADT ASDT Notes
A6 3006 Vrbovsko west 11,979 20,091 Between Vrbovsko and Ravna Gora interchanges.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Cestovni tunel Javorova kosa" [Javorova Kosa road tunnel] (in Croatian). Konstruktor. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  2. ↑ Mladen Jambrović (September 21, 2002). "Račan: Tunelom Javorova Kosa provozat ćemo se za Božić" [Račan: We shall drive through Javorova Kosa Tunnel for Christmas] (PDF). Vjesnik (in Croatian). Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Postignut dogovor o gradilištima triju tunela na autocesti Zagreb - Rijeka" [Agreement on construction sites of three Zagreb - Rijeka motorway tunnels] (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. January 29, 2002. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Predstavnici Uprave Mediteran Union Tunela (MUT) ocijenili su da je uzrok nedavnog urušavanja tunela Javorova kosa na autocesti Rijeka-Zagreb neodgovarajući način gradnje sadašnjih izvođača radova" [Management of Mediteran Union Tunel (MUT) think recent caving-in of Javorova Kosa Tunnel on Rijeka-Zagreb motorway is caused by inappropriate construction methods employed by the current contractor] (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. January 21, 2003. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  5. ↑ Pavle Jureta, Zvonimir Deković. "Primjena cijevnog štita na tunelima Javorova Kosa i Pod Vugleš" [Use of pipe roofing in Javorova Kosa and Podvugleš tunnels] (in Croatian). University of Zagreb, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum engineering. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  6. ↑ "'Urušavanje tunela Javorova kosa neće utjecati na rok dovršetka'" ['Caving in of the tunnel shall not affect completion schedule'] (in Croatian). Nova TV. November 21, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  7. ↑ Damir Herceg (December 2, 2000). "Probijen tunel Pod Vugleš, jedan od 13 tunela na auto cesti Zagreb-Rijeka" [Podvugleš Tunnel excavated as one of 13 tunnels located on Zagreb-Rijeka motorway] (PDF). Vjesnik (in Croatian). Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Nadstrešnica između tunela Javorova kosa i Pod Vugleš" [Cover between Javorova Kosa and Podvugleš tunnels] (in Croatian). Konstruktor. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Traffic counting on the roadways of Croatia in 2009 - digest" (PDF). Hrvatske Ceste. May 1, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2010.

External links

Coordinates: 45°22′44″N 14°57′11″E / 45.37886°N 14.953036°E / 45.37886; 14.953036

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