Despite measures taken as regards planning and project planning, execution and behaviour, not all noise emissions can be avoided during construction work.

SBB is aware that this can be annoying for local residents. In accordance with the Federal Office for the Environment’s construction noise guideline. SBB endeavours to carry out noise-intensive work during the day whenever possible and therefore not during times when there is an increased need for rest.    

Construction transport generally takes place during the day. Residents affected by construction noise receive information about the various construction activities via residents’ letters, advertisements and/or information platforms via the Internet. Exceptions to this are short-notice, unplanned work assignments.

For safety and railway operations reasons, work has to be carried out on or near the tracks at night or at weekends. The residents affected will be informed in advance whenever possible.

On the construction site (construction machinery, on-site transport).

Air pollution by atmospheric pollutants and dust during construction is mainly caused by the use of construction machinery at installation and construction sites. The Federal Office for the Environment’s building guideline for air applies. SBB is keeping these emissions as low as possible by taking various measures, such as reducing journeys by recycling materials and checking mechanical, thermal or chemical working processes, requirements for equipment and machines as well as tendering procedures and construction work.    

Construction transport (off-site).

The pollutant emissions during the construction phase will be determined by lorry traffic or by the mileage travelled on the public road network. The most important measures for reducing emissions are to make use of loading volumes, short transport routes and state-of-the-art emission standards (hGVs).

Individual work steps can unavoidably lead to disruptive vibration emissions. Such vibrations may be clearly noticeable to humans, but they do not represent a hazard to the structural fabric of the buildings. At high-vibration construction sites, crack logs are drawn up on the exported properties before construction begins. If there is a risk that high-vibration work cannot be ruled out, or if the properties concerned are very vibration-sensitive, measurements are taken for the purpose of monitoring the building. This means it is possible to react if defined limit values are exceeded and take measures before damage occurs. Similar to construction noise, affected residents are notified of any work that could cause vibrations at an early stage.    

Especially in the case of larger construction projects, environmental construction supervision is used as part of the execution. This supervises and monitors compliance with legal requirements for environmental protection and the environmental protection measures provided for in the project and are implemented professionally during construction.

By imposing numerous requirements and measures, authorities and developers ensure that lorry traffic does not unnecessarily burden other road users or the local population.  

These include, but are not limited to:

• the restriction of traffic (number of lorries per hour)
• Specification of transport routes and times
• Determination of arrival/departure routes (together with offices and authorities)
• Use of motorways and main roads and avoid local roads if possible