Noise wall barriers are usually designed to reduce the combination of diffracted and transmitted highway noise by at least 10 decibels in neighborhoods adjacent to high-traffic roads.
Most Southern Pine noise wall barriers range from 14 to 28 feet high and are constructed of horizontal 2 x 8 tongue and grooved Southern Pine planks, in sections from 10 to 14 feet wide. Others are built of glued laminated Southern Pine timbers, often assembled into vertical sections. The cost of wood walls ranges from 40% to 50% less than competitive materials. The treated solid sawn Southern Pine lumber is kiln-dried after treatment. To find a source of supply, go to the Product Locator.
Preferred Material
For the construction of noise abatement systems, pressure-treated Southern Pine is an excellent choice for many reasons:
- Public meetings on highway noise problems have shown that many homeowners prefer wood walls because of their natural appearance and their compatibility with the surrounding area.
- Treated Southern Pine lumber barriers cost only about half as much as concrete block, noise walls built decades ago has been eliminated by the requirement that all treated Southern Pine noise barrier lumber must now be kiln-dried after treatment. The KDAT process improves the stability of the treated lumber.
- The flexibility of wood systems permits contractors to adjust walls and poles an inch or two in difficult terrain to ensure a snug fit, in contrast to the precision engineering required with other materials.
- Wood noise walls are not only more aesthetically pleasing than other materials, but they are also less subject to road salt damage than metal and concrete.
- Wood walls can be repaired faster and more economically than metal or concrete if they are damaged by vehicle impact.
For additional information on noise barrier construction and specification, contact the National Wood in Transportation Information Center.
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