S.L. 499.60 Art. 8Inspections.

(1) The Authority shall appoint highly competent and qualified inspection entities to perform on a regular basis inspections, evaluations and tests in tunnels falling within the scope of these regulations to ensure that the tunnels comply with the provisions of these regulations.

(2) The Authority shall ensure that such inspection entities are functionally independent from the Tunnel Manager.

(3) The period between two consecutive inspections of any given tunnel shall not exceed six years.

(4) Where, on the basis of the report of the inspection entity, the Authority finds that a tunnel does not comply with the provisions of these regulations, the Authority shall notify the Tunnel Manager and the Safety Officer that appropriate measures to increase tunnel safety shall be adopted. The Authority shall also define the conditions for continuing to operate the tunnel or for re-opening the tunnel which will apply until remedial measures and any further relevant restrictions or conditions are implemented.

(5) Where the remedial measures include any substantial modification in the tunnel’s construction or operation, once these measures have been taken, the tunnel shall be subject to a new authorisation to operate in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Second Schedule.