Field Study of the Air Quality Impact of Route I-195 at Richmond, Virginia

Report No: 82-R33

Published in 1982

About the report:

This investigation attempted to assess the mesoscale and microscale effects of the recently built Interstate Route I-195 in Richmond, Virginia. Measurement of the air quality before and after completion of the expressway showed that on the mesoscale, there was an improvement in the ambient CO concentration in the 14-square-mile area surrounding the new facility. This improvement can be attributed mostly to the implementation of national vehicular emission standards, but probably to a slight extent to the resulting improvement in the flow of local traffic brought about by the opening of the new facility. On the microscale, there was actually a similar improvement in the ambient CO concentration in the immediate vicinity of the facility. This improvement was in contrast to expectations and probably resulted from a significant decrease in stop-and-go traffic on the nearby, parallel local streets and the construction of the new facility in a depression.

Documents

82-R33

_{Disclaimer Statement:The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Any inclusion of manufacturer names, trade names, or trademarks is for identification purposes only and is not to be considered an endorsement.}

Authors

G. G. Clemeña

Last updated: January 20, 2024