An international seminar highlighting measures to sustainably build and manage road tunnels was held in central Da Nang city on October 24-25 within the framework of the World Road Association (PIARC).

Hosted by the Vietnam Bridge and Road Association and the Vietnam Road Administration, the event focused on environmental issues, methods of designing and constructing road tunnels, and ways to maintain them by responding to natural and human risks.

Road tunnels play an important role in developing transport infrastructures as they can help avoid dangerous intersections, reduce traffic accidents and save time for drivers. However, those in Vietnam have become increasingly affected by air and noise pollution over the last decade.

To minimise environmental contamination, experts suggested the country constantly inspect the quality of the air and review and assess the efficiency of current environmental protection systems in the tunnels.

They also stressed the need to manage transportation activities, including the control of the loading capacity of vehicles across the tunnels, and raise community awareness on traffic safety regulations.

The two-day seminar drew more than 40 foreign delegates from PIARC member countries, including Spain, Norway, France, China and the UK, together with Vietnamese experts in this field.-VNA