Application of Leopold Matrix and Coding Methods for Environmental Impacts Assessment of Shahid Sadr Expressway in Tehran

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool for assisting environmental management and for contributing to sustainable development. EIA is very vital in large project that are conctructed in populated palaces. Environmental Assessment is now internationally accepted methodology for evaluating the effects of proposed major transport infrastructure projects on the environment [1]. EIA is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse [2]. UNEP defines EIA as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers. By using EIA both environmental and economic benefits can be achieved, such as reduced cost and time of project implementation and design, avoided treatment/clean-up costs and impacts of laws and regulations [3]. Sadr elevated expressway is one of the most important project in Iran that was constructed between 2011-2013. Sadr expressway is located at municipal districts 1, 3 and 4, and geographic coordinates of 51 °, 25 ', 19 " to 51 °, 29', 52" east longitude, and 35 °, 46 ', 30 "to 35 °, 47 '35 " north latitude. The expressway has been constructed as a huge bridge over the existing Sadr freeway, in the north it is also limited to regions 1, 7, 8 of Tehran municipal district 1 and in the south, it has common border with regions 2 and 3 of municipal district 3 and region 3 of municipal district 4. The high bridge is located between Imam Ali and Modares expressways. The length designed for the expressway, including entrance ramps is 11 km.