Green lights for motorway noise review
Ellerslie residents are heartened by noise barrier investigations that started on November 8.
NZTA has started investigations relating to the design of proposed barriers on a section of State Highway 1 (SH1) next to Ellerslie.
The purpose of the proposed barriers is to minimise the effects of motorway noise on nearby residents.
The work includes investigating geotechnical conditions and surveying.
‘‘At this point the investigation of barriers is at a concept level with general barrier locations being identified,’’ NZTA Auckland highway manager Brett Gliddon says.
No official decibel readings have been recorded, but Gliddon acknowledges the noise has increased.
He says the exact locations, barrier height and construction have not been confirmed.
The investigations follow on from Ellerslie Residents Association (ERA) secretary Bryce Bartley last month publicly calling for immediate action to reduce traffic noise from SH1.
According to Bartley, residents believe that the increased traffic on SH1 is producing increased noise.
In October and in conjunction with the ERA, Findlay and Hewson St residents established a group to ensure motorway barriers are constructed to alleviate the noise problem.
This follows a public meeting organised by the ERA in May during which a resolution was passed unanimously to request NZTA erects noise barriers along the Ellerslie motorway corridor.
‘‘We are thrilled NZTA is considering and progressing with this project,’’ Ellerslie Business Association town centre manager Megan Darrow says.
‘‘The noise barriers will be a very good thing for Ellerslie residents and businesses,’’ she says.
‘‘Our village is the closest town centre to a motorway which makes it highly accessible, yet remains one of the few places where there are no sound barriers,’’ Darrow says.
Gliddon says that there are a number of steps to be taken in the process including coordination with existing infrastructure, safety assessments, consenting, engagement and consultation with adjacent landowners and detailed design.
This stage of work will be completed by November 20.