03 August, 2017
Trials are already being worked on using a new material that could absorb nitrogen dioxide - a gas produced by diesel engines capable of causing lung cancer.
These constructions could be used on multiple motorways across the United Kingdom with a material that could clean the air, provided subsequent tests are successful.
Highways England says it is "investigating if we can reduce the costs to construct a canopy, which is a tunnel-like structure created to prevent vehicle emissions reaching our neighbours".
So far, they have they have also trialled two different types of barriers. This was a 100 metre long barrier initially 4 metres high and raised to 6 metres in early 2016.
If this trial proves successful, Highways England said it would consider implementing such barriers across its network of England's motorways and major A-roads.
A spokesman said that the "best solution" for tackling increased air pollution is low-emission vehicles, but it was investigating "new ideas" to tackle harmful emissions.
Now, Highways England is testing materials that could clean the air.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation The Times: 'Concentrating emissions in an enclosed environment is the worst thing you can do for people's health'.
'In the time it takes to get this scheme off the ground we would hope the auto fleet will have been significantly cleaned up'.
The increase in the number of diesel vehicles in recent years has also increased NOx output, which some experts have linked to a rise in the number of premature deaths associated with poor air quality to 40,000 per year.
The strategy states that Highways England will work with operators to ensure that rapid charging points at motorway service areas become a comprehensive national network and "are already working to ensure that 95% of our network will have a charging point every 20 miles".
