Attempts towards a sustainable motorway development in Greece

Greece and comprise the completion of the mainland motorway network. Environmental impacts are inherent in all major transportation infrastructure projects. The appropriate framework should exist to safeguard and maintain most environmental parameters so that sustainable development is attained. The general target should always be that the negative environmental burden due to a transportation project should never exceed the carrying capacity of the local environment so that ecological sustainability would not be endangered. The first step in implementing an integrated environmental policy is the determination of all possible impacts and the evaluation of their relevant severance. All sectors should be appraised, such as air quality, water, soil, nuisance, landscape, ecological and cultural severance. The environmental impacts of a project have to be assessed from the earliest possible stage. Parameters at the definitive design study and activities at the construction phase of the project have to comply with a specifically issued detailed Ministry Environmental Decree. The Decree is valid for a certain period of time and for the specific area of the project. An application case to Egnatia motorway is outlined. Specific Landscape Guidelines have been issued which comprise a Landscape Strategy for the whole road – the commitment to treat the landscape along the road corridor and associated link roads.