Environmental costs assessment in La Salve-Ibarrekolanda corridor, Bilbao-Spain

Abstract

This paper summarizes the Information on two alternative routes for a highway between the ''La Salve'' Bridge and Ibarrekolanda (Bilbao) in order to assess and compare the environmental costs. The first alternative would involve passing a high-speed road through a densely populated area whereas the second would have more characteristics of a ring road. As expected, the second alternative, which bypasses the built-up areas, would have less impact and lower environmental costs for the inhabitants of the area, not only during construction but also when the road is opened to traffic. In this alternative, the road would run along a steep slope which constitutes one side of the valley. Since the slope is already environmentally degraded and has no significant natural, agricultural or cultural value, important environment costs would not be incurred by locating the road there. Furthermore, this alternative would make it much easier to minimize undesirable effects.