A methodological framework for addressing environmental problems on aged transport infrastructure

Abstract

While the environmental impacts of new road and motorway construction are examined in detail as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, far less attention is generally paid to existing structures, some of which have been in operation for decades with no environmental assessment ever carried out. In this paper, a framework for an audit of the assessment of environmental burdens from older transport infrastructure is presented. Its main objective is to set up a systematic and comprehensive approach to the preventive identification of problematic locations on the existing road network to prepare proposals for practical and feasible upgrading or optimization measures that can be addressed within the routine repairs and small reconstructions. It primarily deals with the setup of the whole process, starting with the preparation of the background for the assessment, the field survey procedure, the design of possible measures and their subsequent monitoring. The audit concept identified a total of 14 key problem domains representing individual environmental problems, for which methodological sheets were prepared. However, this is not a rigid number; the whole framework is conceived as an open system allowing for the addition of new topics or possible methodological adaptations to the practices common in other countries or in transport sectors other than roads. The audit is currently considered as a voluntary tool applicable on the state owned transport network, thus the practical usage is in the hands of the state administration and infrastructure operators.