Based on ecological footprint analysis method

the impacts of highway construction on ecological environment were investigated in a case study of the Baoji-Hanzhong highway. Ecological footprint of pol-lutants was taken into account to calculate the change of the ecological footprint and ecological capacity for the counties along the highway before and after the highway construction. The impacts of the highway con-struction on local ecological environment were also evaluated and predicted. The ecological deficit of the counties along the highway increased by 0.0164hm2 and the ecological tension index also increased slightly after the construction of the Baoji-Hanzhong highway

which implies that the local ecological environment and ecological safety have been affected by the highway construction.