EFFECTIVENESS OF NOISE BARRIERS ALONG THE CAPITAL BELTWAY (I-495) IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

A recent Federal Highway Administration study of the effectiveness of three noise barriers along I-495 in northern Virginia is described. The study sites included (a) an earth berm, (b) a metal wall on an earth berm, and (c) a concrete wall on an earth berm. The study results, though limited in scope (no statistical analysis was performed,), support conclusions reached in other studies that have attempted to validate the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Model: The model provides an accurate estimate of (a) levels of unshielded traffic noise close to the roadway (7.5-15m) and (b) levels of shielded traffic noise behind noise barriers. In addition, the results confirm that the noise barriers studied have reduced the level of traffic noise by at least 50 percent. (AUTHOR)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/740/740-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EFFECTIVENESS+OF+NOISE+BARRIERS+ALONG+THE+CAPITAL+BELTWAY+(I-495)+IN+NORTHERN+VIRGINIA&author=R.+Armstrong&publication_year=1980
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Transportation-Related Noise. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Armstrong, Robert E
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 21-26
• Monograph Title: Highway Noise Abatement
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 740
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Berms; Earth; Forecasting; Mathematical models; Measures of effectiveness; Metals; Noise barriers; Reduction (Chemistry); Walls
• Identifier Terms: Capital Beltway
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Models
• Geographic Terms: Northern Virginia
• Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
• Subject Areas: Highways; Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00316377
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309029988
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 8 1980 12:00AM