| Resumo: | As result of the European Directive 2002/49/CE approval on the 25 th June 2002, the Portuguese government through the Portuguese Road Authority (EP - Empresa Pública Estradas de Portugal) and the support of the University of Porto, decided to analyse the situation on one of the most noise annoyed areas of Portugal concerning road traffic (LAeq up to 77 dB), and to evaluate the need for noise mitigation solutions. This paper refers to the analysis of those particular circumstances regarding a high-speed regional ring, crossing the urban expansion zone of Porto (named IC23-VCI) that exceeds the yearly limit of 6 million vehicle movements settled by the European Directive. In fact, there are actually, over 50 million movements a year on that road (AMDT â 140000 vehicles) with a circulating speed of about 100 km/h (light vehicles) and 80 km/h (heavy vehicles). Such a noise-challenging road has tremendous implications on the welfare of local inhabitants. To assess the subjective noise annoyance caused by this road, a social acoustic survey was carried out (5000 inquiries mailed) that indicates a high percentage of very annoyed and extremely annoyed persons (44% of the returned answers). Concerning noise mitigation solutions, the analysis of the situation: measurements, noise maps [actual conditions and future developments], local constraints [safety, available space, drainage system and interference with other infrastructures (electricity, gas, telephone and cable TV facilities)] in addition to the Portuguese Noise Code limits, demanded the need for lowering the noise levels at the closest receivers. The typical noise mitigation solutions considered were: drainage pavement (already in place), noise barriers, retaining walls covered with absorbing materials and facade sound insulation.
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