The impact of reconstruction and traffic regulation on the noise level

The regular maintenance of urban roads in the city of Zagreb involves the reconstruction of around 10 kilometres of the most heavily loaded traffic routes and their sections. The usual way of urban roads maintenance implies overlaying, as well as partial or complete replacement of a pavement structure. In addition, there is a tendency to improve the current traffic regulation or to initiate the new one. Regarding an increased traffic noise level, the protests and citizens' petitions directed to the city government have been growing stronger in the residential, business and school areas crossed by heavy traffic volume streets. Therefore, a study should be undertaken to determine the level of noise decrease by the regular traffic routes maintenance. The first part of the study includes the comparative analysis of the noise level measurement in the Klaiceva Street before and immediately after the reconstruction. The Klaiceva Street is the main connection between the eastern and the western part of the city while crossing the area of where schools and educational institutions are located closely to each other. Based on the first stage of the study, paper described the impact of the improvement of the pavement surface properties, smoothness, and grip as well as initiation of the new traffic regulations on the noise level.