By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A TALLER noise wall is expected to take the edge off Monash Freeway traffic’s roar for adjoining Endeavour Hills residents.
The 5.3-metre tall timber wall with a top tier of Perspex is the back yard fence for some residents on James Cook Drive and Ravenhill Crescent.
It is their only buffer from the din of 91,000-plus vehicles – 10 per cent of which are heavy vehicles – on the freeway section each day.
Roads Minister and Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said unacceptable levels of noise had floated over the previous three-metre tall barriers and disturbed residents in the area’s basin.
“These noise walls will provide a welcome buffer between residents and freeway traffic, improving their quality of life, allowing them to spend more time in their backyards and making it easier to sleep at night.”
The 225-metre section is part of a near 1.3-kilometre freeway noise wall length between South Gippsland Freeway and Old Gunns Road that has been raised to at least five metres in height.
VicRoads south-east metro regional director Aidan McGann said traffic noise at homes had been approaching the 68 deciBel threshold – equivalent to conversation in a restaurant.
According to modelling, freeway noise should be reduced by up to 4.7 deciBels at some homes, Mr McGann.
This was the equivalent of wiping off 20-30 years of traffic growth, he said.
“We’re hearing positive perspectives from the community.”
VicRoads has postponed tests on the noise wall’s effectiveness until the freeway’s speed limit, temporarily reduced during road works, was resumed.
The noise wall upgrade is part of an $11.2 million package in which right-turn signals were installed at the Princes Highway, Fitzgerald Road and Hinrichsen Drive intersection in Hallam in January.
Works to upgrade intersections at Belgrave-Hallam and Narre Warren North roads and Fox and Narre Warren North roads are due to begin in mid-2017.
