Environmental protection and remediation of low-cost roads are integrated activities of road administration. International lending agencies such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank and the lawmakers of both developed and developing countries insist that all projects be environmentally sound. To achieve this goal, road departments need adequate institutional capacity to address and resolve all the environmental issues in a timely and cost-effective manner to reduce or avoid remedial costs. Experience with the administration of environmental units within road departments is detailed in this paper. The principal responsibilities of such a unit are the administration of environmental impact assessments; research, development, and adaptation of new technologies; and education and training of the department's managerial and technical staff.
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