This is the message from Telemark County Council to Porsgrunn Municipality.
The wording is: “Action plan against noise 2024-2029 – consultation draft”.
The purpose is “to reduce the number of people affected by the health effects of noise”.
Statements must be sent by 19 May.
Noise correction
All county roads are included in the plan, and it is based, among other things, on noise guidelines that provide limits for noise pollution. An overview of the number of people affected by noise from county road sections is included.
An overview of noise measures from 2018 until today is reproduced.
Measures for the next six years are included, such as the Moflata project:
“A noise investigation is carried out in connection with the preparation of a zoning plan. It will probably be relevant to take some noise measures in the form of noise screens or local measures for 1-5 homes.”
Attitude-creating work
In several places in the county, the focus is on soft road users. In Midt-Telemark, Rjukan and Dalen there are cycling measures.
In the urban areas, it is about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, traffic jams and noise “through efficient land use and by taking the growth in passenger transport with public transport, cycling and walking (the zero growth target)”.
For Greenland: Car-reducing measures (tolls and parking fees), better route offers and attitude-building work. Measures for pedestrians and cyclists – enhanced operation and maintenance of pedestrian and bicycle networks, bicycle parking and city bicycles.
Down with speed
Speed reduction can reduce the noise:
“The noise-related effect of reducing signposted speed limits will depend on whether one succeeds in reducing the cars’ speed, as it is the actual speed, and not the signposted speed, that is important for the sound level. An actual speed reduction from 60 to 50 km/h will result in a sound reduction of approx. 2 dB. In practice, it is often assumed that a reduction in the speed sign of 10 km/h results in an actual speed reduction of only 3 km/h, and a noise reduction of approx. 0.75 dB.
Consequently, an overall assessment should be used as a basis.
80 years between each time
Another note is:
“Since the previous action plan was drawn up in 2018, the share of electric cars in Vestfold and Telemark has risen markedly from 5.2 per cent to 17.2 per cent in 2022 (Statistics Norway, 2023). The share of electric cars is expected to rise further in the years to come. This will contribute further in a positive direction with regard to noise nuisance related to road traffic noise, especially in areas with low speed limits.”
This, like minor studded tire use, is not something that the county council itself can influence.
And one notices this:
“Today’s budget situation for Telemark county municipality, and the allocations for asphalt, mean that on average 80 years pass between each time a stretch of road is reasphalted in the county, against a recommended cycle of 10-12 years”.
