Motorways in the UK may be covered with 'tunnels'

Motorways in the UK may be covered with 'tunnels'

Large 'tunnels' covering stretches of motorway to protect locals from dangerous levels of pollution are being considered by Highways England.

The agency said in its latest air quality strategy that it is exploring the possibility of building physical canopies around main roads to soak up car fumes.

It is working on trials using a material that can absorb nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which can cause lung disease and is produced by diesel engines.

In its report, Highways England says it is 'investigating if we can reduce the costs to construct a canopy, which is a tunnel-like structure designed to prevent vehicle emissions reaching our neighbours'.

Large 'tunnels' covering stretches of motorway to protect locals from dangerous levels of pollution are being considered by Highways England. The agency said that it is exploring the possibility of building physical canopies around main roads to soak up car fumes 

HOW WOULD THE TUNNELS WORK? 

Highways Agency officials are looking at a Dutch scheme in which cantilevered canopies are built over the most polluted sections of motorways. 

This, they say, will prevent local residents breathing in polluted car fumes.

After trialling a similar physical barrier to pollution in 2015, the agency said it is now running tests on a material to be used in the tunnels can clean the air.

So far, they have they have also trialled two different types of barriers. 

The first, with wood panels 4 metres and 6 metres high, was fitted to the M62 near junction 18 in Manchester.

A second trial, which is ongoing, features a 3 metre high fence coated in a mineral polymer material capable of absorbing nitrogen dioxide.  

Highways Agency officials are looking at a Dutch scheme in which cantilevered canopies are built over the most polluted sections of motorways. 

After trialling a similar wood barrier to pollution in 2015, which initially stood at four metres high and stretched 100 metres down the M62, the agency said it is now running tests on a material that can clean the air.

In the first trial wood panels 4 metres and 6 metres high were fitted to the M62 near junction 18 in Manchester.

The latest trial, also on the M62 near junction 18 at Simister, will feature a 3 metre high fence coated in a mineral polymer material capable of absorbing nitrogen dioxide.

If this trial proves successful, the agency said it would consider implementing such barriers across its network of motorways and trunk roads.

The pollution tunnels were criticised by the RAC Foundation, however.

They risk trapping emissions in an enclosed area and making air quality worse for drivers, it said. 

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'Concentrating emissions in an enclosed environment is the worst thing you can do for people's health. 

'In the time it takes to get this scheme off the ground we would hope the car fleet will have been significantly cleaned up.' 

Air pollution is linked to around 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK, and transport also accounts for around a quarter of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.

If this trial proves successful, the agency said it would consider implementing such barriers across its network of motorways and trunk roads 

The agency has been given £100 million by the Government to improve air quality through to 2021, and the strategy released sets out how they plan to spend that money.

It includes a target to put a charging point for electric cars every 20 miles on 95% of the road network.

The report also said that diesel HGVs are the biggest contributors to roadside levels of nitrogen dioxide, which causes respiratory diseases.

It said: 'Emissions from diesel vehicles are a significant contributor to the poor air quality at the roadside.'

In its clean air plan, unveiled last month after an order from the courts, the Government set out plans to fund measures to cut pollution with a tax on new diesel vehicles, with an aim to end the sale of all conventional petrol and diesel cars by 2040.

ARE POLLUTION TUNNELS SAFE?

The pollution tunnels were criticised by the RAC Foundation.

They risk trapping emissions in an enclosed area and making air quality worse for drivers, it said. 

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'Concentrating emissions in an enclosed environment is the worst thing you can do for people's health. 

'In the time it takes to get this scheme off the ground we would hope the car fleet will have been significantl y cleaned up.' 

 

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