TxDOT Research Project

Life Cycle Cost and Performance of Lightweight Noise Barrier Materials Along Bridge Structures

What Was the Need?
The Texas Department of Transportation commissioned a study to analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of a lightweight noise barrier on Interstate Highway 30, near downtown Dallas. The highway segment in question, an elevated structure next to a creek, has presented noise problems for the adjacent neighborhood ever since its expansion in the early 2000s. The highway carries substantial commuter traffic as well as heavy trucks. The neighborhood is hilly and sits at a higher elevation relative to the highway, except for a few residences on the street adjacent to the creek.

What's the Solution?
The material for the noise barrier needed to be lightweight in order to be supported by the existing bridge structures without having to retrofit them. A 10-ft tall transparent acrylic noise barrier was designed to be installed on top of the existing 8-ft concrete wall. Residential sound pressure level tests were performed at various locations for five months before the transparent wall installation, and continued for nine months after the wall was completed.

Research Benefits
The results indicate that the wall is effective for certain receivers; although the acoustic benefits appear to be small, they are statistically significant, showing that the barrier has an effect on noise levels. The neighbors are satisfied with its performance and with its aesthetic appearance.

Project Number
0-6804
Status
Completed

link icon Copy link to this project.

Start Date
1/29/2013
Renewal date
5/1/2013
End Date
12/31/2020
Performing Institution(s)
Center for Transportation Research (CTR)
Research Team
RS: Manuel Trevino
Sponsor
Project Manager
Wade Odell
Contract Specialist
Melissa Griffin
TxDOT Advisor
Ray Umscheid, ENV
Dan Perge, DAL
Daniel Salazar, DAL
Sandra Williams, DAL
Amount Funded
$783,649
Notes
Plan to continue to implementation project
Page:
Functional Area
Planning and Environmental
Index Terms
Life cycle costing
Noise barriers
Noise control
Traffic noise
Aesthetics
Bridges
Lightweight materials
Sound absorption
Before and after studies
Lead University
CTR
Researcher
Treviño, Manuel
Harrison, Robert, 1942-
Geographic name
Dallas, Tex.
TxDOT District
ENV
DAL

Registered users may add comments. Comments will be shown with usernames.

Comments
kevyn
kevyn
This project was awarded an Environmental Achievement Award from the TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division in 2014. http://ctr.utexas.edu/2014/12/01/txdot-environmental-achievement-award/
3/17/2015 at 4:26 PM
0
Record Added:
7/9/2014
Record Updated:
2/6/2024 9:30 AM EST

Report a broken link or error ».

Library
Home | Catalog | News | About | Privacy Statement

Made possible by the generous support of the
Texas Department of Transportation Research and Technology Implementation Division (RTI)


Center for Transportation Research | Cockrell School of Engineering | The University of Texas at Austin

©2024 Center for Transportation Research | Web Accessibility Policy | Web Privacy Policy