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Vieux Port Tunnel, Marseille, France

  • Vieux Port Tunnel, Marseille, France
  • Lamp efficacy

    Lamp efficacy

    Ensuring the lamp efficiently converts electricity into light (lm/W).

  • Ballast classification

    Ballast classification

    Controlling the electricity supply to the lamp (Energy Efficiency Index).

  • Luminaire distribution

    Luminaire distribution

    Controlling light emission using optics which bend and shape the light to the correct location.

  • System efficacy

    System efficacy

    Combining optical and thermal control within the luminaire (luminaire lm/W).

  • Presence/absence detection

    Presence/absence detection

    Presence: Lights automatically turn on/off with movement. Absence: Lights automatically turn off and must be manually switched on.

  • Daylight detection

    Daylight detection

    Artificial lighting which responds to the natural light conditions.

  • Constant illuminance

    Constant illuminance

    A function designed to produce correct light levels for the duration of the maintenance period.

  • Task-scene setting

    Task-scene setting

    Allowing the user to set scenes and adapt the lighting to different tasks.

  • Timed off

    Timed off

    Automatic cut-off can be installed to turn all lights off during unoccupied hours.

  • Task lighting

    Task lighting

    Lighting task areas with the correct amount of light.

  • Zoning of lighting

    Zoning of lighting

    Lighting is zoned according to area use.

  • Maintenance schedule

    Maintenance schedule

    Maintenance must be performed in response to product age, performance and environment.

  • Waste light

    Waste light

    Eliminating waste light which does not hit the intended target.

  • Reflectance

    Reflectance

    Taking advantage of light which is reflected from the surface within the space.

  • Visible smart metering

    Visible smart metering

    Results of actions can be quickly seen as increased or decreased energy use to encourage responsible energy consumption.

Thorn wins Marseille tunnel contract

There's a new look to the Vieux Port Tunnel in Marseille coming along soon, and it's all down to new lighting. The Infrastructure Branch of the Marseille Provence Métropole (MPM) has awarded Thorn the contract to refurbish the 600m long immersed tunnel with 759 high output Gotthard fluorescent luminaires – in wattage ratings of 55W, single and twin.  The majority are dimmable.

The equipment will be installed during the first half of 2012 by electrical contractors Forclum, a subsidiary of Eiffage, the 8th largest construction group in Europe

The dual, two lane, Vieux Port Tunnel is the middle of three critical road tunnel links, carrying traffic along the Marseille coastline. Built under the city's Marina in 1967 it now requires major modernisation to handle the increased traffic flow and to improve safety.

Gotthard is ideal for this kind of specialised lighting where energy efficient, high illumination of low glare is required. Closure for maintenance purposes will be considerably reduced due to the highly sealed, robust nature of the luminaires.

To tackle congestion - Marseille is a bustling city of over one million inhabitants, and one of the few European cities in which several motorways terminate within the city - the MPM reoriented its major highways underground via new tunnels along the coastline. This not only enables thousands of road users to benefit from improved journey times though the city - and between Europe and the South - but allows economic redevelopment of the waterfront area to take place. These works, costing around €135 million, form part of the largest urban renewal project in Europe, and helped support France's oldest and second-largest city in winning the race to become the European Capital of Culture in 2013.

Thorn also lit the Joliette tunnel to the north, which opened in early 2011. At 5 meters below sea level and 1 km long the tunnel replaced the A55 viaduct and removed traffic from ground level. Altogether Thorn provided 391 Gotthard units – a mix of 55W fluorescent and 150W-250W high pressure sodium fittings – plus 20 low level Orus lanterns with Flat beam ® optics and 35W HIT lamps