TRAFFIC POLLUTANTS LEVELS AT DIFFERENT DESIGNS OF KING FAHD ROAD, SAUDI ARABIA: COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Dammam and Khobar governorates constructed tunnels and bridges on King Fahd road. This study aimed at comparing traffic pollutants' levels on normally designed parts and at about 50m from the portals of tunnels and bridges. This study was conducted during March to August 2009. Particulate matter; traffic vapors and gases; and noise were measured at roadside level at the three designs of King Fahd Road in the two governorates. Levels of particulate matter, total volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and noise at the normally designed parts of King Fahd road [687(25.4)µg/m3, 1.0(1.0)] 0.1(0.2), 4.0(5.0) ppm and 76.5(6.3)dB] were higher than that at tunneled [359.1(231.0), 1.0(1.0), ND(0.1), 2.0(2.0) and 72.8(5.3)] and bridged parts [420.4(259.8), ND(1.0), ND(0.0), 1.0(2.0) and 72.2(5.3)] respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that traffic pollutants at tunneled and bridged parts of King Fahd road were lower than that at normally designed parts

Keywords

• Carbon monoxide, particulate matter, road re-design, sulfur dioxide, total volatile organic compounds, traffic gases, traffic pollution, traffic vapors

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