Quiet and durable pavements: Findings from an Ontario study

Traffic noise is a growing problem throughout the world. Noise barriers, traditionally used for reducing noise exposure, are expensive and inefficient in some cases. Pavement surface characteristics play a key role in noise generation and propagation. Information about noise-reducing characteristics of various Portland cement concrete (PCC) and asphalt concrete (AC) pavements can therefore help public agencies in selecting an appropriate surface that maximizes the structural durability, reduces the noise, and ensures adequate skid resistance for safety. In this study, tire–pavement close proximity (CPX), in-vehicle, and controlled pass-by (CPB) noise were measured at 80–100 km/h for 32 PCC and AC pavements in southern Ontario. The results have indicated that certain textures are needed to allow for air escape from the tire–road interface, which limits the generation and (or) propagation of tire–pavement noise. Both fine-graded Superpave and stone mastic asphalt (SMA) were shown to be promising for noise reduction and have good durability characteristics. However, careful placement and finishing are essential to produce a uniform lower order macrotexture and to attain the noise-reduction benefit.