Howden has supplied jet fans for $1.3bn Central 70 tunnel in Denver, Colorado

Working with a team of contractors for Colorado Department of Transportation, Howden supplied the nine jet fans for use in a new 1,000-foot tunnel. The tunnel is claimed by Howden to be one of the most advanced in the U.S. and is located on a major stretch of highway, which carries over 200,000 vehicles a day.

The APA-1250/578 jet fans contribute to the safety of the tunnel by monitoring pollutants that lead to poor visibility, discomfort, high temperature and smoke. They are mounted with open inlet and open discharge, a special application that adds momentum to the air stream and creates a faster draft, as well as clear passage in an emergency.

Howden’s jet fans work in tandem with sophisticated LED lighting that balances the light inside and outside of the tunnel for driver safety, speakers for the police or fire department to talk to drivers if required, and a sprinkler/deluge system in the event of a fire.

Mark Sanders, president of the Americas region at Howden, commented: “Howden was selected to contribute to this technologically advanced and high profile project which will transform a significant highway, bringing it into the 21^st century.

“We were pleased to work alongside the other contractors to create a system that promotes safety and improves the driver experience through our innovative fans and robust testing, including thermal growth and vibration.”

The project improves traffic flow, creates safety measures and brings a new aesthetic to the community via a park that will soon replace the previous, six-lane viaduct. A second, eastbound tunnel is now under construction.

Howden manufactures highly engineered fans, compressors, heat exchangers, steam turbines, and other air and gas handling equipment, and provides service and support to customers around the world across highly diversified end markets.