This report measures the levels of noise generated by traffic on five different surfaces from 1978-1982. The test area was on I-90 between Brush Creek and the junction of TH 22, west of Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Residents who lived near the I-94 Dartmouth Bridge noted an increase in traffic noise that resulted after completion of bridge construction in fall 1996. To help reduce the noise on I-94 between Riverside and Franklin Avenues, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) decided to investigate the effectiveness of diamond grading.
In July 1998, the bridge pavement and adjacent concrete pavements were diamond ground. Researchers performed noise measurements in the adjacent residential areas before and after the grinding, which was done to entirely eliminate the tining from the bridge deck and pavement. The grinding specifications limited the grinding to approximately 3/16-inch in depth and taper to no inches at the inside and outside shoulders.
Researchers measured traffic and noise levels at six locations in the study area during June and September 1998. Overall, diamond grinding of tined concrete pavement succeeded in decreasing noise levels.
The sound absorption test measures the sound absorptiveness of a pavement surface. The sound analyzed is not generated by the interaction of the rolling tire with pavement surface but by noise source above the impedance tube. During the test, the impedance tube is placed on the pavement surface and a set of sensitive microphones are attached to the pre-installed housing at the lower end of the tube. These microphones are also connected to an analyzer. The noise source sends the incident sound energy (white noise) to the surface and the incident and reflected waves are captured by the two microphones. Software analyzes the reflected waves and converts the data to the 3rd octave sound absorption coefficient at 315, 400, 500, 750, 1000, 1250 and 1650 Hertz. Thus, the sound absorption coefficients at each frequency are between one and zero, where a value of one would mean that all of the sound is being absorbed by the pavement surface.
This report explores the design and construction considerations, including cost estimates, for erecting traffic noise barriers along Interstate 35W in South Minneapolis between Minnehaha Parkway and Diamond Lake Road.
This Technical Summary pertains to the LRRB-produced Report 2014-07, “Hot Mix Asphalt Surface Characteristics Related to Ride, Texture, Friction, Noise and Durability,” published February 2014.
This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2010-40, “Influence of Pavement on Traffic Noise—Statistical Pass-By Measurements of Traffic on Several Interstate Pavements,” published November 2010.
To ensure that concrete pavements exhibit sufficient friction and skid resistance, these pavements are textured during construction; this commonly involves dragging an inverted turf or stiff-bristled broom across the surface, creating tines (grooves) in the concrete using a mechanical rake, or brushing away some of the mortar before it hardens to expose the texture of the aggregate. These textures wear away over time, requiring pavement rehabilitation.
