Highway Planning and Design

A noise study is done early in the planning stages of most highway improvements. The purpose of this study is to determine if the project will create any traffic noise impacts. The traffic noise analysis includes the following:

1. Identification of land uses that may be affected from the proposed highway.
2. Prediction of traffic noise levels in the vicinity of the proposed alignment.
3. Determination of traffic noise impacts.
4. Examination and evaluation of noise abatement measures for reducing or eliminating the noise impacts, giving weight to the benefits and cost of abatement, and to the overall social, economic and environmental effects.