Environmental Impact Assessment

for Highway
Projects
Presented By-
Nandan Bhowmick,TLM
Roll No-56
 Introduction
Like people, most organizations are heavily dependant on roads to
distribute their goods & to carry their executives & sales people.
Yet, though once seen as the engine of progress, roads are facing
increasing criticism around the world. A highway is a main road
for travel by the public between important destinations, such as
cities,large towns, and states. Highway designs vary widely and
can range from a two-lane road without margins to a multi-lane,
grade-separated expressway, freeway, or motorway.

Impact due to construction of highways include the noise and dust

from construction, the use of non-renewable aggregates, the loss
of natural habitats and green space and increase in traffic (with all
its impacts). The best practice is to undertake an environmental
impact assessment (EIA) before the road is designed.
 Anticipated Impacts Due To
Highway Construction Project
Encroachment on precious ecology :

The proposed routing of the highway encroaches upon precious ecological

resources, including forests and swamps. This also disturbs the natural habitats
of a lot of creatures and animals leaving on the encroach land. The ecological
disturbance is likely to occur.
The construction activities will drive some wildlife away from their habitats,
particularly migratory birds. The construction period will last for quite a long
time (34 years) and many migratory birds within about 500 m of the proposed
expressway will leave their currently roosting and feeding places and move
away.
During road construction, the vegetation on the acquired land will be
destroyed, and the local ecosystem is changed. In addition, the destruction and
fragmentation effect of the road construction may diminish the habitats for
some of the animal species, so that there may not be enough roosting places
any more for them to survive.
During operation, the traffic noise, traffic lights at night and vehicle emissions
may cause some adverse impacts on the wildlife around the road.
Adverse impact on historical/cultural monuments:

The nearby structures to highway projects are adversely affected

due to the pollution and environmental disturbances created by
the project. During the construction phase, huge amount of CO2
(Carbon Dioxide) and CO (Carbon Monoxide) gases are released
into the atmosphere. The gas poses a threat to ancient
monuments as they are made up of lime which reacts with these
gases in presence of water/moisture. The most prominent
example of this is Taj-Mahal.

Impairment of fisheries/ aquatic ecology and other

beneficial water uses:

The water bodies like lake, pond or river which are close to the
highway site get affected by the construction activity. The
workers and staff living near to the site uses the water from
these water bodies and in turn pollute them causing harm to
aquatic ecology. The rain water may wash away the chemicals
and other hazardous product to the water body affecting the
oxygen content of it. This will lead to impairment of fisheries
 Water quality :

The Project will involve the construction of small and large bridges, which
will be built with hollow piers and deep foundations with bored piles. The
pile drilling operation will generate a great amount of spoil of water.

Major sources of potential water pollution were identified as

(i) Increased soil erosion during construction, which may cause water
pollution with sedimentation
(ii) Wastewater pollution caused by large construction sites, in particular
bridge construction
(iii) Potential pollution associated with the construction of bridge foundations
with bored piles
(iv) Pollution caused by surface runoff and service area wastewater

Water quality impacts due to construction sites :

Wastewater and hazardous materials (fuel, oil, acids, caustics, etc.) may
drain into streams and drainage areas, causing pollution to surface water
or groundwater. This is particularly true for large construction sites,
construction campsites, and staging areas where workers, construction
equipment, and building materials are most concentrated.
 Erosion and Siltation

The wearing away, detachment and transportation of soil from one

place to another place and its deposition by moving water, blowing
wind or other causes is called soil erosion. Large numbers of trees and
plantation has to be removed for construction of highway. This leads to
loosing of the soil, soil disturbance, and exposure of bare soil surface.
This causes problem of soil erosion and siltation during rain or heavy
wind. The most severe problems will be associated with embankment
construction in the plain area, road sections with heavy cuts and fills,
borrow and spoil sites, as well as bridge and culvert construction sites,
particularly on rainy days.

Environmental aesthetics :

Roads project involves cutting of trees, soil filling and cutting operation.
This disturbs the natural aesthetic of the environment (scenic value).
Some expressway components like large bridges and interchanges will
create visual impacts and detract from the natural beauty of the area.
The lack of resurfacing/ replanting of exposed areas are also the leading
factor to aesthetic reduction.
 Noise and Vibration :
During the construction stage massive equipments like excavators, power shovels,
dumpers, compacters, loader etc are used. This causes considerable vibrations in
nearby areas. They also produce high noise levels. This all disturbs the natural
surroundings and creates unfavourable conditions for the living creatures. The
vibrations may affect the structures nearby.
Highway run-off pollution :
Surface runoff from highways may contain sufficient petroleum drippage plus spilled
material (including toxic and hazardous materials) which can adversely affect
aquatic ecology and environmental aesthetics.
Affect on Natural resources :
The Project will disrupt some existing irrigation systems, particularly in the plain
areas where the road will be constructed on filled-up embankment. This
fragmentation will also affect the existing flood-relief channels and natural
drainage of the area.
Land Acquisition :
The loss in agricultural products due to farm land decrease
Another extra land is needed during the construction period for temporary
use (construction camp sites, staging areas, access roads, borrow and spoil sites,
etc.)
Some buildings will be demolished and wire poles will be removed, and one
small enterprise may be moved.
 Air pollution hazards :

The project results in discharge of air pollutants from machines

and motor vehicles, especially carbon monoxide, which under
adverse conditions could cause severe air pollution hazards to
nearby area and communities.
a. Air Quality Impacts during Operation :
If project area is a non-attainment area for TSP and CO, with their
background concentrations well exceeding the applicable air
quality standards. The vehicle emissions and fugitive dust
emissions from the expressway will add to the problem.
b. Air Quality Impacts during Construction :
Construction activities particularly earthworks; increased traffic and
the use of cement, asphalt, and other building materials will
produce excessive airborne dust and toxic asphalt fumes, causing
a major impact on air quality within the project area. It was
observed that the TSP concentration at a distance 50 m to the
leeward of a concrete mixing plant can be 1.368 mg/Nm3, & 0.619
mg/Nm3 at 100 m.
 Conclusion/Remedies
The environmental impact caused due to road project can be
reduced by adopting following measures:
I. Removing only the necessary vegetation; applying for permits
to cut down trees. Revegetation of green areas.
II. Make up embankments. Disposal of surplus earth. Disposal of
waste (Plan for processing solid and liquid waste)
III. Performing of the cultural heritage protection plan. Covering
or dampening uncovered soils.
IV. Green areas, ornate. Maintenance. Soil protection. Water
protection.
V. Wastewater effluents from the service area will be treated by
a chemical and biological treatment system in accordance
with applicable standards before discharge into the nearby
irrigation system.
 VI.To minimize the visual impacts, the following measures will be taken:
a. Minimize cut and fill slopes where possible and, in particular, avoid steep cut
slopes;
b. Implement site-specific landscaping and re-vegetation on both sides of the road,
all cut slopes, and disturbed land, making the expressway a beautiful green
corridor; and
c. Design bridges, interchanges, and do their infrastructure in such a way as to
achieve consistency with the surrounding natural landscape, local buildings, and
facilities in terms of form, colour, and texture.
VII. To minimize the nighttime noise impacts, noise suppressors will be used on
construction equipment where feasible. High noise machinery will not be allowed
to operate in the proximity of a school when classes are in session, and also from
22:00 to 6:00 hrs when there are residential areas nearby
VIII. establish greenbelt between the road and the villages and school to reduce
noise level and air pollution during operation
IX. To minimize the dust impact, construction fields and major access roads and
haul roads will be watered on a set schedule, particularly in the dry season.
Construction materials storage and concrete mixing plants will be sited more than
100 m away, and asphalt mixing plants 300 m away in a downwind direction from
residences and schools. All the mixing equipment will be closed systems with dust
extractors.
Thank You