Noise reduction by traffic diversion and a tunnel construction: Effects on health and well-being after opening of the Southern Link

摘要

A large problem in urban areas is the increasing traffic causing congestion, noise and air pollution. In some cases, far-reaching interventions can drastically change the situation for the traffic exposed inhabitants. A step change in noise exposure can result in a change effect with an excess response of annoyance to the new exposure over that predicted from exposure-response curves for steady-state conditions. A longitudinal socio-acoustic survey was conducted to investigate changes in health and well-being after opening of Sweden's longest road tunnel - the Southern Link. A total of 658 people responded to a questionnaire both before and after the interventions (493 in the exposure area and 165 in the control area). Noise levels from road traffic in the exposure area ranged between L_(Aeq, 24h) 48 dB and 71 dB and noise annoyance was high. After the opening of the Southern Link, noise levels decreased by 3-17 dB in the exposure area and annoyance were reduced from 60 to 20 %. In the control area, limited changes in noise exposure occurred and annoyance was basically unchanged. A comparison with predicted annoyance for a steady-state situation indicated no change effect; however, for groups with a minor and a large change in noise levels, a potential change effect was seen.