Construction and Green Standards developments for Olympic Games “Sochi-2014”
Moscow, Russia, June 2011
Following the completion of the Strategic environmental impact assessment for all the main venues of 2014 Sochi Olympics in 2010, Inogen Associate Environmental Centre IFPA has been working on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s) and environmental projects for other facilities being developed for the Olympic project, including working with Russian Railways on the transport routes to and from the main Olympic Venues.
This project focuses on the ‘Combined (motorway and railway) road from Adler to Ski Resort Alpica-Service’ (Image 1)
This infrastructure route is an integral part of the Olympic transport network that links the main ports, railway and air transport terminals in the city of Adler with the Olympic venues and nearby alpine resorts. These roads are designed to be used by the athletes and spectators at the 2014 Olympic Games, and as main transport routes for Sochi tourists after the Games.
With regard to road layout conditions, passenger safety & comfort, and concentration of infrastructure facilities this road has no parallels in the country’s road construction history.
The railway track spans 48.3km, including 11.2km of bridges, and 10.4km tunnels.
The highway spans 45.6km, including 14.3km of bridges, and 7.6km of tunnels. (Image 2)
Activities performed by Environmental Centre on this specific project since 2008 have included;
2008-2009. Integrated engineering and environmental surveys over an area of 60 km2 including a preliminary audit, field study and an analysis of the project’s social impact and human health issues. The project’s waste management options were considered and environmental impact estimated.
2008-2010. Environmental Centre was requested to develop the Environmental planning and Management (EPM) and EIA documentation for the project, including arrangement of and participation in public hearings as the customer’s environmental representative. Community desires were considered in the design solutions that have been developed, and the project received a positive conclusion by the State Environmental Expert Review Authority.
2009-2010.Development of the disturbed land reclamation project for the early stage of the design.
2011. Development of the disturbed land reclamation project for the stage of detail design and construction. At this stage a common reclamation project performed in Russia includes a technical stage (measures for recovery of abiotic conditions); biological stage (measures for recovery of construction disturbed ecosystems); and the monitoring of disturbed and reclaimed territories.
The roads have been routed along the channel stream of the mountain Mzymta River. This river is very important for fishing and is a main water supply source for the city of Sochi. These features of the Mzymta River imply that any changes in the river bed could have negative environmental implications. Accordingly, the Customer, Russian Railways, requested that a project of reclamation of disturbed lands should be prepared; including a project of the Mzymta River recovery to ensure the river can be recovered fully to its pre-construction state. To fulfil these tasks Environmental Centre has performed additional studies of the river hydrology, which have included mathematical and physical modelling of the river channel processes.
A physical model of the first stretch of Mzymta River valley has been constructed at State Hydrological Institute’s Main experimental base test sites. (Image 3)
Things to be put in place to ensure the protection and reclamation to the morphological structure of Mzymta riverbed and valley include;
- The formation of dynamically stable morphological structure of a new Mzymta riverbed during all phases of the water regime.
- Dynamically stable transport of the bottom riverbed-forming sediments and their discharge to the sea.
- Acceptable hydraulic conditions of rare-occurrence flood discharge over the studied river stretches.
- Hydraulic conditions acceptable for fish in spawning season.
Emergency Flood Monitoring System
The main objective of the monitoring system is to forecast the potential flood risk that could affect the safety of an Olympic facility, in order to develop and implement measures preventing and mitigating possible emergencies. A centre of monitoring of natural hazardous processes has been established at the MCHS Directorate for Civil Defence and Emergency Response.
The public will be alerted to any oncoming natural emergency situations, for example; strong wind, dust storms, extreme precipitation, hail, frost, strong ice crust, via an MCHS Duty Officer through the methods of public address systems, by phone and through a radio network. Environmental Centre has been involved in putting the procedures and guidelines into place.
Olympic Park railway station complex
Environmental Centre has also been providing support with BREEAM Bespoke 2008 Assessment on various projects which include the Olympic Park Railway Station. The station building will be certified after the results of final assessment, however at the time of writing, the project documentation for this facility has passed the preliminary International BREEAM Bespoke assessment stage. Design solutions have been updated, a possible building’s rating has been estimated, and certification schedule planned.
The Olympic Park railway station is a transfer hub which includes a railway station for long distance, commuter trains and a coach terminal. Open space surrounding the building provides a pleasant view of architect designed landscaping. The second floor of the station and main stairway are enhanced by a cascading waterfall. A tiered design provides the building with a series of verandas with pleasant views across the sea, mountains and sports arenas. (Image 4)
The facility has been assessed by the BREEAM International Bespoke 2008 scheme. An interim BREEAM certificate is planned to be obtained in December 2012. The final BREEAM certificate for the completed facility is to follow in February 2013.
For further information on any aspect of this project contact Yelena Kopeichenko,elenavk@ecifpa.ru