Toward noise protection planning in urban areas

Planning noise protection measures differs in case of the construction of new roads or the reconstruction of the existing ones from the implementation of protection measures in the zones of existing roads where conditions have deteriorated due to increase in traffic load. In the zones of existing roads the possibilities of applying protection measures are very different due to both spatial limitations and very different vehicle structure and traffic flow characteristics. The research shown in this paper is based on three characteristic examples in Zagreb. The possibilities of applying different protection measures and their combinations are considered with the aim to reduce environmental noise. The paper describes two typical locations beside the existing roads, one in the narrower and one in the wider city centre, on which noise level and traffic load were measured. The third location considered in the paper is the important city traffic junction, which was significantly reconstructed. The results of conducted measurements were analyzed and the possibilities of applying noise mitigation measures in urban centres were considered.