Experts hope improved fire safety precautions included in repairs to Huguenot Tunnel

Some experts are hoping that improved fire safety precautions will be included in repairs underway at the Huguenot Tunnel near Cape Town.

The tunnel suffered damage to lighting infrastructure, wall panel fittings and other operational infrastructure after a fire.

Technical assessments and structural inspections were completed on Sunday night, but the tunnel remains closed.

In a media statement, SANRAL’s Western Cape provincial head, Randall Cable, said that the safety of motorists remains a top priority.

Head of the Fire Engineering Research Unit at Stellenbosch University, Professor Richard Walls, said that suppression systems would assist if another fire occured.

"As they are upgrading the tunnel at the moment, hopefully, many of the things that happen now will be dealt with in the future. Probably moving certain cabling electrical systems out the way, so even if there is a fire, they won't be knocked out, possibly protecting the ceiling systems."