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Noise and Vibration

Noise has a great impact on our lives and it can have both positive and negative effects. Noise becomes a problem when it is intrusive and unwelcome. What some people might consider being excessive noise others might not. Throughout our lives we may have inflicted noise on others. This may have been loud music, dogs barking or construction/building works in our homes.

Dealing with noise within the Highways Agency

Traffic Noise arising from the Highways Agency's network has been recognised as a major source of noise pollution.

The Highways Agency takes practical steps to minimise noise and disturbance arising from the road network. This includes providing appropriate highway designs and making more use of noise reducing technologies.

Some of the mitigation measures include:

• Noise barriers, 
• Low noise surfacing on the roads  
• In some cases noise insulation installed in homes.

The Agency will also aim to increase the awareness of our contractors about the importance of the noise issue when improvement works are being carried out. In addition we will encourage our partners in the vehicle, tyre and construction industries to play their part.

The Highways Agency aims to mitigate the effects of noise arising from traffic on the strategic network where appropriate. All trunk road improvement proposals are appraised using the New Approach To Appraisal (NATA), which considers environmental objectives, such as noise impacts alongside social and economic concerns.

When new roads are to be built or existing roads significantly improved, quieter road surfaces are specified in contracts as a matter of course. This is in addition to other measures such as earth mounds and acoustic fencing, which are also considered.

Further Information

Guidance on Noise Nuisance from Trunk Roads and Motorways