Civil engineering works are sources of dust emissions, which can cause severe security, health and environmental damages to workers and neighbourhoods. This is particularly significant for implementation of earthwork sites. The present paper reports a study conducted to characterise the soil–atmosphere interaction above compacted soils where particle lift is initiated. Mixtures of kaolin clay and sand have been compacted using a laboratory roller compactor that reproduces near-field compaction conditions. Shear testing conducted at the interface confirms that the sand content affects the friction angle between the soil and the compaction roller. The experimental velocity profiles above the compacted samples have been obtained in a wind tunnel using a non-intrusive measurement technique (laser Doppler velocimetry). Results show that the sand fraction affects velocity profiles. Compaction, therefore, may not fully reduce the roughness of the soil surface. The airflow friction velocities at the sample surfaces have been determined from the boundary layer profiles. The results achieved demonstrate that all tested soils reach the threshold friction velocity required to initiate particle lift, and the higher the sand content of the soil, the more likely it is that particle lift occurs.