This document serves as the 4th annual Report for the monitoring of environmental impact of the Project entitled “Archaeological Works and Relocations of PUO Networks of Line 4, Section A’: Alsos Veikou – Goudi of the Athens Metro”; it concerns the time period from 01.01.2025 until 31.12.2025 and the following five worksite locations of the Project, namely:
- KYPSELI Station
- ALEXANDRAS Station
- EXARCHIA Station
- PANEPISTIMIOUPOLI Station
- ZOGRAFOU Station
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROJECT AND REMEDIAL MEASURES
Natural Environment
Air
Air impact during the execution of works can be mainly caused during the execution of archaeological works and the PUO network relocations that integrate traffic arrangements, dismantling and removal works. Moreover, limited and short-term impact can be caused during the transfer of excavation spoil and construction materials to and from the worksite areas.
In view of reducing and controlling air pollutants in the atmosphere, appropriate measures concerning prevention of emission and their dispersion in the urban environment were introduced. These measures include the following, namely:
- Keeping vehicle and machinery exhausts away from the soil, so as not to favor the generation of dust during their operation.
- Regular maintenance of equipment/vehicles/machinery for the proper operation and reduction of fume emissions. In line with the applicable legislative requirements, Project vehicles and machinery possess a technical inspection report and an exhaust control card, issued by the Vehicle Technical Control Centre (KTEO).
- Εco driving mode of the vehicles to reduce fuel consumption and fume emissions, moving at low speed to reduce dust.
- Prohibition of burning residues from cleaning works, excavations and dismantling works, as well as any kind of materials.
- Reduction to the minimum possible the duration of works favoring and/or generating dust.
During the reference period and based on the available data, no negative impact on the air quality, due to the execution of works, has been identified and recorded. Taking into consideration the information included in the approved Environmental Impact Assessment Studies (EIAS) and supplementary Environmental Studies of the Project, as well as the Technical Environmental Studies for worksites, the emissions of air pollutants are estimated to be local, mild and short-term and are not expected to negatively and significantly affect the air quality in the wider area of the locations where works have been executed.
Water Resources
During the reference period and based on the available data, no negative impact on the water quality have been identified and recorded due to the execution of works, and more specifically, during the performance of archaeological works and PUO network diversions, including traffic arrangements, as well as demolition and dismantling works.
It is noted that during the reference period no water pumping works have been executed and, thus, no settling tanks have been installed.
Moreover, no washing activities of Project vehicles, machinery and other equipment are performed in the worksite areas.
Soil
During the reference period and based on the available data, no negative impact on the soil has been identified and recorded due to the execution of works, and more specifically, during the execution of archaeological works and PUO network diversions, including traffic arrangements, demolition and dismantling works, as well as during the transfer of excavation spoil and construction materials to and from the worksite areas.
Flora
The impact identified on the urban green during the reference period throughout the execution of works concerns grubbing and cutting of the existing trees and bushes due to the works under execution, i.e. during the execution of archaeological works and PUO network diversions, including traffic arrangements, demolition and dismantling works.
In order to avoid any negative impact on the flora and the urban green in the worksite areas, the following measures have been introduced:
- Transplantation of trees and bushes to the Plant Nursery of the Municipality of Athens, following the suggestion of the Greenery Division of the Municipality of Athens.
- Tree care (pruning) provided to all trees prior to the execution of grubbing and transplantation works.
- Tree care (placing fertilizer, watering works etc.) provided to all trees transplanted to the Plant Nursery of the Municipality of Athens, as suggested.
- Transplanting trees and bushes that can be transplanted at proper locations following the suggestion of the Agencies concerned (Greenery Divisions of the Municipalities concerned).
- Removal and handling of prunings, as well as trees and bushes that have been cut and cannot be transplanted in an appropriate licensed plant.
- A Special Study for the Management of Urban Green and Flora is prepared and submitted for approval to ELLINIKO METRO S.A. for every location of the Project, based on which cutting, grubbing and transplantation works of the existing flora are being executed.
The trees and bushes to be transplanted are marked by the Greenery Divisions of the Municipality concerned and, where required, the Department of Forests of Athens and the Department of Woods and Parks of Attica Prefecture give their expert opinion for the subject trees and bushes to be transplanted to locations suggested by the aforementioned Divisions. The remaining trees and bushes that are not transplanted are being properly handled in cooperation with Plants licensed for the removal and disposal/recovery of biodegradable waste (EKA – European Waste Catalogue code 20 02 01: garden and park wastes – biodegradable waste).
Built Environment
During the reference period and based on the available data, no negative impact on the built environment within and adjacent to the worksite areas has been identified and recorded. Impact, if any, that may be caused during the execution of all works concerns buildings, the road network, the infrastructure networks and the common infrastructures.
Citizens’ Quality of Life
Noise – Vibrations
During the reference period, the impact on the quality of life of the citizens in the areas of the project locations where works have been executed, generated by noise and vibration emissions, is estimated to be of local character, mild and short-term without adversely affecting – to a great extent – the quality of the urban environment in the wider area of the locations where works have been executed, taking also into consideration the results of the noise and vibration measurements carried out during the reference period at the most heavily affected – in terms of works – and sensitive worksites’ locations.
The impact on the quality of life of the residents in the areas of the project locations and on the acoustic environment, due to noise and vibration noise and vibration, may be caused mainly during the execution of archaeological works and the works for the diversion of the PUO networks, including traffic arrangements, demolition and dismantling works. Moreover, mild and short-term impact may be caused during the transportation of excavation spoil and construction materials to/from the worksite areas.
Such impact concerns the following:
- Generation of noise emissions due to the operation of project machinery, work equipment and the circulation of project vehicles and machinery in the worksite area
- Generation of vibrations due to the operation of project machinery, work equipment and the circulation of project vehicles and machinery in the worksite area.
To limit the generation of noise and vibration emissions, the following measures are introduced:
- Use of equipment ensuring effective noise attenuation, such as appropriate silencers, noise insulation, acoustic barriers, soundproofing, noise-shielding, etc.
- Frequent maintenance of the equipment to ensure that the equipment is kept in good condition, so as to minimize noise emissions during use.
- Τechnical inspection report issued by the Vehicle Technical Control Centre (KTEO) for vehicles transporting the construction materials and excavation spoil while noise levels emitted during operation are checked against the applicable legislative requirements.
- Installation of the equipment as far away as possible from the adjacent buildings.
- Avoiding concurrent operation of machinery causing the emission of high noise levels and vibrations (air compressors, drilling rigs, hammers, pilling machinery, road rollers etc.) and operation during rest hours.
- Loading, unloading trucks and machinery and driving same to ensure the lowest possible noise levels.
Accessibility
During the reference period, based on the available data, no major negative impact has been identified and recorded on the accessibility of people to public areas, properties, commercial shops and work areas. Any impact is estimated to be of local nature and mild, while the impact shall extend throughout the period of the execution of the works.
It is pointed out that due attention is taken, so that in all project locations the least possible surface is occupied for the needs of the execution of the works and for time schedule adherence purposes, so that the areas occupied are released on time.
Cultural heritage
The impact on cultural heritage during the execution of the works could be mainly caused due to the relocation of PUO networks. To avoid any negative impact on the historical and cultural environment, special attention is taken for the protection of the archaeological findings which could be encountered during the execution of the works.
More precisely, prior to the commencement of the works, investigation works, where required, were executed at the individual project locations to identify any eventual antiquities, including the required retaining and/or supporting works. The points of interest for drilling investigation sections are set by the Archaeological Department, which is notified in writing prior to the commencement of the works. The archaeological works to follow are executed under the supervision of the Archaeological Department.
During the reference period, no negative impact on cultural heritage has been ascertained and recorded due to the execution of the works. Should finds are revealed during the archaeological investigation, the impact shall be positive, since the findings will be rescued, preserved and displayed.
Handling of excavation spoil and excavation, construction and demolition waste
As regards the handling of excavation spoils and the waste generated during the execution of the works in the worksite areas, a log and the relevant documentation (transportation accompanying documents, acceptance certificates, dispatch notes, etc.) are kept, in view of documenting how every waste category is disposed. The permits of the disposal sites for excavated material and the relevant approvals and documentation were submitted through the Special Study for Handling Excavation Spoil and Construction Materials.
In line with the provisions of the approved Environmental Monitoring Plan of the project and the approved Special Study for Handling Excavation Spoil and Construction Materials, exceeding excavation materials may be transported for disposal in approved areas. During the reference period, the majority of the generated excavation, construction and demolition waste which resulted from the execution of the archaeological works and the works for the deviation of the PUO networks, including traffic arrangements, demolition and dismantling works, were transported for disposal in licensed disposal sites.
Biodegradable waste generated from cleaning works in the worksite areas (European Waste Catalogue code 20 02 01) which concerns the urban green which cannot be transplanted and biodegradable waste generated from the cleaning works in worksite areas (grass, dry branches, etc.) were disposed for handling in licensed companies.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the analytical data for the reference period, i.e. from 1/1/2025 to 31/12/2025, no negative impact has been ascertained or recorded during the execution of the project “Archaeological works and PUO relocations in Athens Metro Line 4 – Section A “Alsos Veikou – Goudi”.
