IMPACT ON LOCAL AIR-QUALITY OF THE PLANNED FIXED LINK ACROSS ORESUND

The planned combined bridge and tunnel link between Sweden and Denmark (the Oresund Link) is expected to be in operation around the turn of the century. So far the impacts of the Oresund Link on air pollution h ave been discussed mainly in terms of changes in emissions, taking int o account implications of the link on traffic in the region. It appear s that the influence on regional and global air pollution will be marg inal. Concerning local effects however, the situation is different; th e new link across the Oresund and the island Amager will result in sig nificant changes in traffic pattern and traffic intensity and thus als o in air quality in some areas. An investigation initiated in 1994 on the Danish side of the link comprises monitoring of present air pollut ion and model evaluations of future pollution levels in a series of st reets for various traffic scenarios. So far no violations of present l imit values have been indicated, but guidelines may be exceeded.