For the past three years, an experiment has been conducted on Vėtrungių Street in Vilna, as part of the GreenMe5 project, with the aim of identifying the most effective measures to reduce air pollution and traffic noise.
One of the main measures evaluated was the increase in urban greening. The evaluation revealed that dense hedgerows can significantly reduce the concentration of particulate matter and decrease traffic noise by approximately 5-7%.
A green barrier was established along Vėtrungių Street. Last spring, 74 trees were planted, and a dense hedge was created between the roadway and the sidewalk. Residents also participated by planting around 3.000 shrubs during a community day, bringing the total number of shrubs planted to almost 8.000.
Air pollution and noise were monitored before leaf emergence (March 2026) and during the growing season (late May 2026). Sensors were installed along the road and near a residential building to record conditions before and after full vegetation development.
The comparison revealed a significant reduction in air pollutants. PM10 concentrations decreased by around 29%, PM2,5 by around 44%, and PM1,0 by more than 50%, according to the sensor located next to the roadway. Near the residential building, particulate concentrations were reduced by up to 55%.
The vegetation also reduced traffic noise. Average noise levels next to the roadway decreased from 65,41 dB to 62,02 dB (approximately 5%). Between the street and the residential building, noise levels fell from 62,02 dB to 57,86 dB, a reduction of almost 7%, demonstrating that well-designed vegetation can act as a natural noise barrier.
The study also assessed the effect of rainfall. After rain, particle concentrations decreased between 24% and 35%, suggesting that outdoor physical activity is healthier after rain, and that more frequent street cleaning could further reduce dust emissions.
The EU-funded LIFE GreenMe5 project is evaluating various measures, including partial traffic restrictions, more frequent street cleaning after winter, and expanded urban greening. Air quality and noise levels are measured after each intervention to identify the most effective solutions for wider implementation across Vilnius. The project also encourages residents to choose more sustainable modes of transport, such as public transport, cycling, and walking, instead of unnecessary car journeys.
Further information, as well as the full research results—including the analysis of urban landscaping and the analysis of air pollution after rainfall—can be found on the project website: https://greenme5.vilnius.lt/
