How freeways damage your health

By Chris Heazlewood MELBOURNE — The links between more cars, worse air pollution and poorer health are well demonstrated. Yet freeway construction plans continue to be sold as glorious new icons. However, recent court victories of anti-freeway protesters are prising open cracks in the Kennett government's monument building, and may still yet signal the survival of the world's most livable city. The charges of obstruction against 14 protesters were dismissed by the Magistrates Court on October 10. The protesters were campaigning to stop the widening of Alexandra Parade. In 1978, this formerly quiet residential street was made a major exit route for the Eastern Freeway and, prior to its most recent widening, carried up to 68,000 cars per day. The extension of the Eastern Freeway to East Doncaster and the widening of Alexandra Parade was begun despite advice that a rail line to East Doncaster would be more efficient and less expensive. The case against cars has been stacking up for some time. For the amount of energy consumed and air pollution created cars are a most inefficient form of transport. Much of the smog — around 60% — on brown Melbourne days is due to road transport. The casualty list is long. Air pollution often triggers fatal asthma attacks in sufferers. Other respiratory illnesses are worsened by nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and ozone. Benzene and toluene are linked with cancer and lead pollution has been shown to reduce intelligence in children. Freeway proponents claim that new roads reduce pollution by reducing congestion. There are studies which demonstrate that exhaust emissions are reduced at faster and more constant vehicle speeds. Yet these time-and-fuel savings are quickly swamped by the huge amount of additional traffic using the new roads. It is irresponsible for the Melbourne City Link Authority to claim that "Life will certainly improve once we have a triple by-pass". Dr Chris O'Neill, a GP and City of Yarra medical officer, told the Magistrates Court that about 400 Melburnians die each year from the effects of air pollution, most of it from motor vehicles. Frank Carnovale, a consulting air emissions expert, produced figures which showed that vehicles using Alexandra Parade already emit 13 kilograms of benzene (EPA standards demand zero), as well as high levels of volatile organic compounds, nitrous oxides and four times the permitted level of carbon monoxide. Emissions will increase as more cars begin to use the freeway extension. This court victory can be added to the earlier success of 11 protesters who also had their charges dismissed. Last year's protests against the road widening began at Wellington Street where the freeway's forward march was stopped. Twenty five people were arrested for obstruction. In March the court found that the first period of construction was unlawful as the government had failed to complete an environmental effects statement (EES). New legislation subsequently did away with this requirement. The much larger City Link project underscores the government's dismissive attitude to the health and well-being of the community. The enormous financial cost of the project means that large increases in traffic are necessary to ensure a good return for the private operator. In a deal with the operator, the government has ruled out parallel public transport routes, especially the airport rail link. The inevitable result of all freeway building will be more pollution, deteriorating health, and a decline in access to public transport.