Huge exercise in the Ursulaberg tunnel: 350 emergency services in alarm mode!

Huge exercise in the Ursulaberg tunnel: 350 emergency services in alarm mode!

For everyone who is passionate about road safety, there was an exciting insight into the operations of the emergency services last Saturday. Around 350 emergency services train together Ursulaberg tunnel in Pfullingen, which opened in 2003 and allows around 20,000 vehicles through every day. Under the motto “Safety comes first,” an exercise scenario was simulated, which represents an important experience for everyone involved.

In the heart of the tunnel, which serves as a bypass for federal highway 312 and is 1,180 meters long, the helpers staged a traffic accident. A head-on collision between a car and a truck was planned, which led to a spectacular fire. The artificial smoke development created a realistic training atmosphere in which the helpers were challenged in the event of a fire and in rescuing injured people. In total, there were ten people injured and around 30 people affected by rear-end collisions that occurred due to a traffic jam in the tunnel.

Cooperation of the emergency services

The exercise was organized under the leadership of the Pfullingen fire department and attracted numerous helpers from various institutions, including the police, the German Red Cross (DRK), the Maltese relief service and several fire departments. “Such cooperation is important in order to be able to act quickly and efficiently in an emergency,” said a spokesman for the fire department.

The Ursulaberg Tunnel is equipped with modern safety devices that are essential for the safety of road users. These include three emergency stairwells, emergency stopping and breakdown bays, eight emergency call stations, 16 jet fans and video cameras. A comprehensive security concept ensures that everything runs smoothly, even in an emergency Wikipedia notes.

Regular safety exercises

The regular large-scale exercises are crucial in order to continuously improve processes in the event of an emergency and to be prepared for different scenarios. The last exercise took place on April 2nd, 2022 in the nearby Scheibengipfel Tunnel. This is in line with the responsibility of the Reutlingen District Office, which is responsible for operations and traffic safety in the tunnel.

The Ursulaberg Tunnel, which was built using the cut-and-cover method, incurred construction costs of 27 million euros and includes a tube with two lanes. The future safety of vehicle drivers and pedestrians will continue to be ensured. Regular inspections and maintenance work are planned to ensure safety at all times.

Overall, this exercise impressively shows how important it is for all partners involved to work together in order to be able to react quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency. With a good knack for traffic safety and constant exercises, the Pfullingen region is guaranteed to be well prepared.