Tunnels today are not just highway construction sections. They are closed, technologically-charged structures that face extreme demands on safety, reliability, and preparedness for crisis situations on a daily basis.
At PPA CONTROLL, we see every tunnel as an organism that must withstand, communicate and react in real time. That is why for decades we have been designing, supplying and integrating technologies that form its nervous and immune systems. Our expertise in this area today ensures us the position of one of the leaders in the field of transport technologies in Slovakia.
Slovak tunnels today combine human ingenuity and expertise with the most modern technological equipment and safety. The latter remains under 24/7 surveillance and diagnostics even in the closed tunnel space. Whether it concerns the safety of traffic management, health protection, or the possible evacuation of the driver and passengers.
Our specialists contribute to the design, construction and operation of the implemented tunnels, integrating safety into every single activity and functionality of the tunnel, according to the strict safety rules of the European Union. Our rich experience is evidenced by the implemented projects such as the Bikoš, Považský Chlmec, Horelica, Branisko or Bôrik tunnels and others that are not yet completed.
The advantage of being late: Our tunnels are among the most modern
Slovakia started building highway tunnels later than its neighboring countries. While Austria and Italy had many years of experience, we only started building after 2002. But that was precisely the advantage.
"We turned a disadvantage into our advantage. We jumped on the bandwagon," confirms Igor Jamnický, Director of the Transport Technologies Department of PPA INŽINIERING, which belongs to the PPA CONTROLL group. "We went to conferences, called consultants from abroad, and immediately implemented the most modern solutions available."
Safety standards were already being introduced for the Branisko Tunnel, which are now among the strictest in the EU. While in older tunnels abroad a single lighting system was sufficient, Slovak regulations required comprehensive solutions from the start.
Technologies that don't sleep
Slovak tunnels today function as continuously monitored and controlled systems. Lighting, ventilation, camera surveillance, fire alarms, acoustic sensors, traffic signs, backup power supply – all of this is connected to a single control center.
Bikoš Tunnel, opened in September 2023, was the first to fully utilize LED technology. The result is more precise control of lighting conditions, lower energy consumption, and higher reliability.
When the system sees before the human
Automated systems today can use artificial intelligence to assess an incident before the driver notices it. AID software analyzes camera images and recognizes a stopped vehicle, a pedestrian, oncoming traffic, or an obstacle on the road.
In practice, it works like this: if a vehicle stops in a tunnel and the driver opens the door of the telephone alarm, the sensors send a signal, the system turns on full lighting, activates the hazard warning lights, reduces the speed limit, and the operator instantly has visual contact with the scene of the incident - even before the first phone call is made.
The tunnel is a space without compromise
From a safety perspective, a tunnel is extreme. Unlike open roads, it has no natural escape route or air circulation. Therefore, all systems must operate in perfect synchronization – from smoke and carbon monoxide detection, to controlled ventilation, to driver communication.
Technology is not a luxury here, but a necessity. "And it is thanks to the comprehensive solutions from our PPA CONTROLL group that Slovak tunnels can be ranked among those that meet European standards, and often exceed them," says Igor Jamnický.
The future underground: autonomy, data flows and new challenges
With the advent of autonomous vehicles, the infrastructure requirements are also changing. The tunnel will no longer be just a place to pass through, but a zone of intensive data transmission. Therefore, we are already counting on the integration of a 5G network, which will enable communication between vehicles, tunnel systems and operators.
At the same time, the expert debate is also considering new forms of variable traffic signs as part of the development, which could inform drivers, for example, about the occupancy of rest areas or changes in routes in real time.
Technology that saves lives
At PPA CONTROLL, we believe that quality infrastructure is the foundation of safety. The tunnels we design and equip are proof that technology – when used correctly – can be an invisible protector of hundreds of lives every day.
"We are proud of our designers and programmers - they develop tunnel control systems and participate in the creation of technical conditions for the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic. Similar standards define what a unified and transparent tunnel control system should look like from the perspective of its daily operation," Igor Jamnický emphasizes.
It is thanks to our people, who understand technologies down to the smallest detail, and their visions of what the future of road transport should look like, that Slovak tunnels remain not only passable, but above all safe.
If you would like to see the full interview with Igor Jamnický, you can find it at this line.
