Dokumentbeteckning: 2019:196
Stormwater from highways can be a source of pollutants as well as sudden flushes of water,
both which require management to limit damage to the surrounding environment including
down-stream recipients. The National Transport Administrations, Trafikverket in Sweden
and Statens Vegvesen in Norway are responsible for the management of large roads and
highways outside urban areas. Together with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, a
compilation of current practice and knowledge within stormwater best management
practices was put together (Trafikverket, 2018). The focus was primarily current
management methods, which includes the use of ponds and, in some cases, forebays with
combined sedimentation and infiltration facilities. As a result from that work, rain gardens
were highlighted as a potential method of interest, however, although examples exist
especially in urban environments, rain gardens are not an established method for managing
runoff from highways in Sweden and Norway. A number of questions remain for rain
gardens to be considered, including their main function, costs and robustness to the cold
and varied climate of the north.
Therefore, the aim of this project was to describe the potential for using rain gardens to
manage, buffer and clean stormwater runoff from highways in Sweden and Norway.
Related publication:
Reducing Highway Runoff Pollution - sustainable design and maintenance of stormwater treatment facilities