In practice, this translates into a focus on the conservation of the environment and natural resources in building roads as well as the safety, longevity and beauty of roads. Particular attention is paid to groundwater protection and noise abatement.

Finnish Road Administration seeks to manage the environmental impacts of road management and traffic through enhanced environmental expertise and procedures. Whenever possible, Finnish Road Administration introduces new, more environmentally friendly technical solutions and also attends to fostering conditions for public transport and pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

The environmental programme also extends to Finnish Road Administration’s partners as Finnish Road Administration requires the products and services it purchases to exhibit high environmental quality. Programme realisation is actively monitored and the results are used as the basis for evaluating the environmental quality of Finnish Road Administration operations as a whole.

Environmental impact assessment of road projects has already become an established element of Finnish Road Administration’s environmental efforts. An assessment is carried out on all road projects; however, on major road projects the process is more thorough, as it must comply with the requirements of legislation.