Road traffic noise mitigation measures: A basic parameter in the environmental design policy at OLYMPIA ODOS Motorway

Abstract

The overall design of the "Elefsina - Korinthos - Patra" Motorway (OLYMPIA ODOS) involves the development of a modern motorway of European standards. The construction activities are focused on the upgrading of the motorways' existing sections, a total length 82km (63.2km the Elefsina - Korinthos section and 18.3km the Patra Bypass section), and the construction of the motorway's new sections, of a total length of 120 kilometers (Korinthos-Patra section). Within the context of the contractual obligations, the Constructor (APION KLEOS C.J.V.) has developed an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Project, in accordance to the ISO 14001: 2004 Standard, which constitutes the basic and comprehensive framework for the management of environmental issues and includes the organizational structure, the planning actions, the allocation of responsibilities, the technical methods and procedures, as well as the processes for the development, implementation, attainment, reviewing and support of its environmental policy and the compliance with the Project's environmental terms, pursuant to the legislation and the relevant decisions. The basic environmental design parameter of OLYMPIA ODOS is the protection from road traffic noise, given that road transport is the most important linear noise source. The main components of the impact of road transport on the quality of anthropogenic environment are associated with the characteristics of the traffic volume and the functions of the affected residential section. For this purpose, the Constructor's Environmental department in cooperation with Traffic Transportation & Environment Consultants S.A. successfully completed a program aimed at monitoring and mapping the road traffic noise on the Elefsina - Korinthos section by recording the existing condition of the road section's acoustic environment, and due to the recording of systematic exceedances of the current limit for road traffic noise, examined the most suitable measures for the elimination of these exceedances through the implementation of noise barriers.