The environment and landscape in highway design

The construction and operation of highways has a significantimpact on the environment. While such impact is impossible toavoid, modern highways are constructed and landscaped to minimisethese impacts as far as possible.  Good landscaping minimisesthe impact on those living or working close to the highway, whileat the same time regenerating the natural landscape disturbedduringconstruction.         

Using as its background the successful landscape design of theNanjing–Hangzhou Expressway in Jiangsu Province, China, whichopened to traffic in 2007, Highway Landscape Design includesreference to all aspects of the landscaping of highways, includinginterchanges, embankments, central reservations, bridges, serviceand toll station areas, and drainage systems. Appropriateconsideration is given to the negative impact on the surroundingenvironment during the process of construction and it discusses theecological evaluation and conservation strategy for the highwayroute. China is in some respects at the forefront of highwaylandscape design as a result of rapid growth and developmentcoupled with the financial resources to implement majorinfrastructure works, and the concepts, technologies and methodsdeveloped for this Expressway provide valuable experience forsustainable development strategies for suchinfrastructure.