Study of the Negative Effects of Tehran-North Highway on West Zone of Mazandaran with Sustainable Development Approach

Sustainable development, justice among generations and human's endeavors for progress and development together with protection of environment and the existing resources show that the role of the transportation sector to reach sustainable development is very effective. Tehran-North Highway is one of the most important elements of transportation in the process of sustainable development of north of the country, particularly in the coastline of West Mazandaran Province. In this study, using the objective observations, library studies and collecting survey data, the fourth district of the highway in the first phase of the project and the quality of its link and adaptability with the coastline of the West Mazandaran region, particularly Noushahr and Chalus cities are studied aiming to assess the sustainable development of the region. The studied characteristics are: noise pollution, pollution of the water resources and aquaculture, extinction of animal species, extinction of plant cover, waste management, rural texture and body and tourism industry. The results of the study show that increased capacity and safety of the road and the reduced travel time are the positive effects of the high way, while noise pollution, extinction of animal and plant species and absence of correct waste management mechanism are the negative effects of it on the region. At the end, solutions to reduce and remove the negative effects of the project based on sustainable development of the region are suggested.