EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF A FREEWAY NOISE BARRIER I-35W AT MINNEHAHA CREEK, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

The effectiveness of a 1900 foot, 20 foot high timber noise barrier along both sides of an urban freeway (100,000 AADT, 6% trucks) was evaluated on the basis of sound level measurements and residential annoyance survey before and after it was built. Noise reductions of up to 12 dbA (L10) were observed behind the barrier. However, the average noise reduction at the front row of homes was about 7 dbA (L10). In terms of annoyance, the barrier performed the equivalent of moving front row homes back one block. In contrast, pavement resurfacing prior to barrier construction had little effect on annoyance ratings. Changes in annoyance correlated well with changes in L10 and Leq but not so well with L50 or NPL. Data on differences in annoyance at various times of the day are presented.

• Corporate Authors:

  Minnesota Department of Highways

  Materials, Research and Standards Division
  St Paul, MN  United States  55101
• Authors:
  • Lambert, R F
  • Bouchard, TJJ
• Publication Date: 1974-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 214 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acoustic measuring instruments; Acoustics; Freeways; Noise; Noise control; Traffic noise
• Identifier Terms: Interstate Highway System
• Geographic Terms: Minnesota
• Old TRIS Terms: Acoustic measurement; Bariers; Wooden structures
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00090124
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: MN-HW-5-180-74-6 Final Rpt.
• Files: NTIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 22 1975 12:00AM