ROADS: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

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1 ROADS: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE GEMS Environmental Compliance- ESDM Training Series Kabul July / August /1/2016 1

2 ROADS AND DEVELOPMENT Improved access = benefits across economic sectors Service delivery Health Food assistance Education Connect markets Transfer of knowledge Increased employment Greater tourism potential Greater competition within industries = lower prices, more innovation

3 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Soil Erosion Degradation of water quality Exacerbate water scarcity Altered hydrology and Flooding Deforestation Damage to valuable ecosystems Damage to scenic quality and tourism Adverse impacts on human health and safety Changes to local culture and society

4 SOIL EROSION Roads in hilly or steep terrain without following contours or minimizing grades Do not have sufficient drainage Water collects, causing erosion Mitigation: appropriate drainage, gradient control Common with heavy clay soils, in wetlands, abandoned roads, barren areas

5 DEGRADATION OF WATER QUALITY Roads create more impermeable surfaces Soil erosion + siltation of nearby waterbodies Indirect impact: roads increasing ag development Runoff from roads Puddles + mosquitos Mitigation: appropriate drainage, retention basins, settling ponds Construction increases dust, silt, and contaminants in local waterways

6 ADVERSE EFFECTS ON WATER QUANTITY / ALTERED HYDROLOGY Road repair and construction requires water: Compact surface Mix concrete Can be very impactful in arid / semi-arid areas Roads can act like dams Poorly installed culverts in wet areas can concentrate water and form gullies Mitigation: appropriate drainage, retention basins, settling ponds

7 BORROW PITS General risks associated with borrow pits: If not well planned, can pose threats from drowning in quarry pits to falling from quarry faces Pits are often left unclosed because the extent of the resource was never determined Vector-borne diseases can spread when stagnant water accumulates in the pits May create craters that breed mosquitos or other insects Poorly managed borrow pits can diminish an area s aesthetic value However, it should be noted that borrow pits in Afghanistan pose less of a threat than in e.g., Africa, because they are usually established in dry river beds and tend to be small

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9 DEFORESTATION, DAMAGE TO ECOSYSTEMS AND SCENIC VALUE Can result in increases in economic activity that puts pressure on forests Uncontrolled agricultural expansion Timber extraction Charcoal Construction materials May disrupt integrity of important ecosystems (habitat fragmentation) Introduction of non-native species Poaching and trapping Mitigation: Stakeholder consultation, Consideration of ecosystem services during planning Any scenic damage (quarries, materials etc.) could damage current and future potential for tourism

10 ADVERSE IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY Dust and noise Adverse impacts of increased contact with outsiders Spread of water-borne disease Traffic hazards Road work hazards Mitigation: Avoid building during dry season, wet dirt surfaces Establish a minimum distance from inhabited areas Stakeholder consultation Educate workers on local culture and disease prevention Eliminate standing water

11 CLIMATE CHANGE / EMERGENCIES AND ROADS Long-term impact of roads dependent on resilience of roads Need to prepare for climate change: Heat expansion and softening of pavement Increase in storms damaging roads Prepare for earthquakes Mitigation: Build roads to be flood and earthquake resilient Appropriate drainage and rigidity

12 GHARDEZ-KHOST ROAD REHABILITATION Rehabilitation of 103 Km of unpaved, non-maintained, high grade road between Gardez and Khist in the North East Accomplishments as of April km were completed as of April 2015, and Road traffic has already increased to 3,000 vehicles per day Travel time has reduced from 6-7 hours for passenger cars and 10 hours for trucks, to 3.5 hours for cars and 5 hours for trucks

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14 GARDEZ-KHOST ROAD CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION: TOPOGRAPHY Cut and fill Select less erodible materials and include rock barriers (riprap and gabions) for culverts, discharge zones, drains, side slopes Avoid cut slopes and embankments with severe angle Balance cut with fill Stabilize embankment slopes Quarries and crushers Located at least 500 meters from urban areas and outside agricultural lands Not located on forested lands Located on government owned land

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16 GARDEZ-KHOST ROAD CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION: TOPOGRAPHY Borrow pits Located outside the ROW Coordinate construction to ensure minimal digging Graded to ensure drainage Save topsoil for re-vegetation Consultation with local communities on filling or maintaining borrow pits Restoration in an environmentally sound manner: revegetation and stabilization

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18 GARDEZ KHOST ROAD CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION: SOILS Impacts to agricultural land: road route changes should interfere as little as possible with agricultural land Erosion Spill ways lined with riprap Minimize land clearing Appropriate drainage, lined and contours Ditches shall be constructed near the top of the back of slopes Slope surfaces shaped for seedling survival Appropriate revegetation (species, time of year, begin as soon as work is completed) Spills/leaks: Require contingency plans

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20 GARDEZ KHOST ROAD CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION: HYDROLOGY Surface Hydrology No tools or machinery shall be washed in water source or areas that drain into water bodies Rain run-off from the construction sites shall not drain into existing water bodies All facilities located at least 50 meters from water bodies Weekly inspection of equipment for leaks Any interference with irrigation waters requires agreement with relevant authorities; irrigation shall be restored within 24 hours Construction, maintenance, removal and reinstatement of necessary drainage equipment Subsurface hydrology: prevent interference and pollution of underground water

21 GARDEZ KHOST ROAD CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION: AIR QUALITY If deemed necessary, monitor air quality before construction to provide baseline Routine air quality monitoring in areas of high impact Asphalt and hot mix plants 500+ m away from sensitive areas Emission / pollution controls on equipment Spray surfaces moist for dust control Cover trucks with tarps to avoid spilling No open burning in populated areas

22 GARDEZ KHOST ROAD CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION: SOCIAL IMPACTS Land use: project affected persons will be identified and compensated All sub contractors required to provide basic emergency health facilities for workers and provide programming on STD Traffic control plans and appropriate by-passes Make all necessary measures to protect any unanticipated finds of historic importance, including suspension of work Public notification of construction operations Noise monitoring and minimization Survey and identified all existing infrastructure; damage to existing infrastructure is the contractor s responsibility

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24 GARDEZ KHOST ROAD CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION: ECOSYSTEMS AND DISASTER All structures will have earthquake loading incorporated in design No works shall proceed until area has been de-mined All important features are properly cited during construction

25 GARDEZ-KHOST ROAD CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION What s missing? Break out into groups to discuss!

26 Thank you 8/1/