The report discusses 5 major issues of importance for planning and designof national roads in Denmark during recent years: (a) interaction with landscape and with spatial planning in neighbouring areas; (b) consulting and informing the public of road projects; (c) effects on wildlife movementsof motorways; (d) the Nordic prediction method for road traffic noise; and (e) test of thin pavements for noise reduction. Danish motorway planningis indebted to international traditions for aesthetics and external harmony with the landscape. This tradition and its architectonic visions are challenged by urbanisation and commercial constructions in the motorway vicinity. There is an urgent need for new guidelines for the spatial planning in areas bordering and neighbouring the motorways of the future.The consultation of the public and non-governmental organisations in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) phase of road projects is a demanding and expensive, but very rewarding activity that involves hearings, public meetings and topic-dependent group involvement in the evaluation of impacts. The paradigm for this element of road projects is routinely evaluated and developed. The use of wildlife crossings in road design has developed significantly in recent years. A study on the usage of various types of underpasses and overpasses for wildlife shows distinct differences that may be relatedto types, dimensions, locations and animal species. Overpasses are suitable for large mammals, such as roe deer. The upgraded Nord2000 model is used by Denmark and the other Nordic countries to calculate the sound pressure at any point in the vicinity of well-defined sources of traffic noise. In accordance with the European "Harmonoise" project it separates tyre/roadnoise and engine noise. The propagation model allows for variations in ground type, terrain shape and weather. Calculations are facilitated by standard inputs for certain type cases. In joint research with the Dutch Road Administration (RWW) Denmark is testing the noise reductions from several types of thin surface pavements on a high-traffic motorway in suburban Copenhagen. Main measurements are based on the "Statistical Pass-By" method, while surface developments are monitored on surface texture as well as friction. For the covering abstract see ITRD E139491.
Abstract