Dust mitigation guidelines for linear construction projects

July 29, 2026

Dust management has traditionally focused on area-based construction sites, but linear infrastructure projects such as roads, metro rail, and utility corridors present far more complex challenges. Unlike fixed-boundary sites, these projects unfold along long, continuously moving work fronts that vary significantly in height and depth of construction, from deep excavations to elevated structures. Construction activities are often carried out in close proximity to residential and commercial areas, placing dust sources directly within people's living and working environments. In addition, traffic congestion caused by construction increases both the dispersion of dust and the duration of public exposure. These factors together demand mitigation strategies tailored specifically to the linear nature of such projects, rather than conventional area-based approaches.

This report serves as a comprehensive guidance document for managing dust emissions from linear construction projects. It identifies dust-generating activities across different stages of construction, categorises the dust risk associated with different project types based on their dust generation potential and levels of exposure, and provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for integrating effective dust mitigation measures into the planning, execution, and monitoring of these projects.