Minimizing Highway Noise Barrier Intrusion

Abstract

Highway noise control has been practiced in the United States for more than 10 years, as a result of direction provided by the Federal Highway Administration. Through 1980, more than 100 million dollars had been spent to construct more than 180 miles (300 km) of barriers throughout the country. Barriers, while providing important noise reduction, are often perceived negatively by the public. The reason for these negative perceptions relate to two basic issues; visual incompatibility and excessive cost. To minimize these negative perceptions is to minimize noise barrier intrusion. This paper examines specific ways to minimize intrusion, from the standpoints of both compatibility and cost. Data from the Synthesis Report 87 of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program are used in the discussion of compatibility. The data are from these topics: Barrier size and mass; material selection and color; landscaping; and citizen involvement. In the area of cost, a method for addressing multiple reflections problem is presented. This method is also designed to minimize barrier heights in certain situations requiring parallel barriers.