United States Department of Transportation
i
Final Analysis of Lightweight Transparent Noise Barriers on I-30 Elevated Structures in Dallas, Texas
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2021-07-01
[PDF-94.28 MB]
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Edition:January 2013–July 2020
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Abstract:The Texas Department of Transportation commissioned a study to analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of lightweight noise barriers on Interstate Highway 30, near downtown Dallas. The highway segment in question, an elevated structure next to a creek, had 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. The material for the noise barriers needed to be lightweight in order to be supported by the existing bridge structures without having to retrofit them. The project consisted of two phases: the first one, the western most segment, installed in 2013, consists of 10-ft tall transparent acrylic noise panels mounted on top of the existing 8-ft concrete wall. The success of the first phase led TxDOT to proceed with the extension of the wall towards the east for the second phase in 2018; it consists of three segments of noise wall of the same material, also mounted on the existing concrete walls, with 13-ft tall panels for one segment and 10-ft tall panels for the other two segments. Residential sound pressure level tests were performed at various locations before and after the transparent wall installations and continued for several years. A portable weather station was used to monitor the conditions at the time of the tests. Measurements were conducted at various times of the day. A statistical analysis of the various weather variables and their influence on the noise levels was performed. The results indicate that the walls are effective, although the acoustic benefits appear to be small; this is due to the fact that the high levels of tire-pavement noise generated by aging pavements on the roadway likely diminished the apparent effectiveness of the walls. The neighbors are satisfied with the walls’ performance and their aesthetic appearance.
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