The Dutch air pollution legislation seemed to have an extraordinary impact on infrastructure developments in the province of Noord-Holland. They were seized with fright at the county hall: Noord-Holland was locked up! However, in contradistinction to the reports in the news, the realisation of infrastructure projects seems not to be seriously influenced in the negative by the air pollution legislation. This decided view is largely in consequence of the amendments of the legislation in the summer of 2005. It is uncertain, though, how the State Council will interpret the balance approach that is introduced. Anyhow, the province has an effective apparatus to improve air quality and, at the same time, guarantee good traffic flow on provincial highways. The most important possibilities are dynamic traffic management, realisation of intersections at separate levels and the diversion of traffic at locations where thee traffic causes most nuisance. (Author/publisher)
Abstract