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Highway Noise Barrier Walls

Permacast Walls / Precast Concrete Products / Highway Noise Barrier Walls

Highway noise barrier walls and custom precast concrete noise fence panel systems by Permacast help mitigate noise pollution for Federal, State, and local infrastructure projects.

Since 2006, our precast concrete products, highway noise barrier walls, fencing panels, and sound fence have become the preferred system of numerous governments, civil engineers, builders, and developers. Our precast concrete products and highway noise barrier walls have been used by some of the biggest in their industries for highways, interstates, county roads, infrastructure projects, and toll roads across North America.

To view photos and videos of Permacast precast concrete highway noise barrier walls and custom noise fence panel systems, please visit our gallery. For more information or to receive a quote for your construction project, fill out the form below and one of our sales representatives will contact you back as soon as possible. You can also call us toll-free at 888-977-9255.

Highway Traffic Noise Abatement Walls

Numerous studies have indicated that the most pervasive noise sources in our environment today are transportation-associated. Highway traffic noise tends to be a dominant noise source in the environment.

In 1970, public outcry led to Federal legislation that authorized the use of Federal-aid highway funds for measures to abate, mitigate, and control highway traffic noise. The measures included the construction of highway noise abatement walls and sound mitigation projects.

What Is A Noise Barrier?

Noise abatement walls are solid obstructions made of precast concrete installed between the highway and the communities along a highway. Noise abatement walls do not completely block all noise, they only reduce overall noise levels. Effective highway noise barrier walls typically reduce noise levels by 5 to 10 decibels (dB), cutting the loudness of traffic noise by as much as one-half. For example, a barrier that achieves a 10-dB reduction can reduce the sound level of a typical tractor-trailer pass-by to that of an automobile.

When Are Noise Barriers Required?

Federal requirements for noise abatement walls and noise barriers can be found in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 23, Part 772, “Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise and Construction Noise”. The U.S. Department of Transportation has stated that “noise barriers are not always required at locations where an absolute threshold is met”. To clarify, there is not an “industry standard number” which requires the construction of a noise barrier.

Federal Highway Administration noise regulations apply only to projects where a State transportation department has requested Federal funding for participation in the improvements. The State Department of Transportation must determine if there will be traffic noise impacts when a project is proposed for (1) the construction of a highway in a new location or (2) the reconstruction of an existing highway to either significantly change the horizontal or vertical alignment or increase the number of through-traffic lanes. If the State DOT identifies potential impacts, it must implement abatement measures. This can include the construction of noise abatement walls or sound barriers, where feasible and reasonable.

Federal law and Federal Highway Administration regulations do not require State transportation departments to build noise abatement walls or sound barriers along existing highways where no other highway improvements are planned. They may voluntarily do so, but they are solely responsible for making this decision.

  • Can reduce the loudness of traffic noise by as much as half
  • Do not completely block all traffic noise
  • Most effective within 61 meters (200 feet) of a highway (usually the first row of homes)
  • Must be designed to be visually appealing
  • Must be designed to preserve aesthetic values and scenic vistas
  • Do not increase noise levels on the opposite side of a highway
  • Reduce noise levels for people living next to highways.

Engineering Specs, Shop, & CAD Drawings

Our specs and drawings offer detailed insight into all of our precast concrete products, noise abatement walls, sound walls, and highway noise barrier fence walls. Click ‘Learn More’ to request them today, or visit our Download Center.

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