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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (November 6) :-

Question:

Regarding the installation of noise barriers at roadsides to alleviate noise nuisances caused by road traffic to neighbouring residents, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the total expenditure on the installation of noise barriers in the past three years;

(b) of the annual budget for noise barrier projects for the coming three years; and

(c) given the negative effects of noise barriers on roadscape and motorists, whether it has explored more new and effective ways to mitigate traffic noise; if so, of the results?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) In the past three financial years (including the current financial year), the Government spent about $1 billion on building noise barriers on new and existing roads.

(b) As we are currently reviewing the allocation of resources for and the priority of public works projects, the allocation for noise barrier projects for the coming three years has not been decided yet.

(c) When planning new roads, we will first consider how to avoid the new roads causing an excessive traffic noise impact on nearby residents or noise sensitive buildings. In this connection, the measures that we will consider include choosing the most suitable road alignment, proper land use planning and surfacing the roads with low noise materials in order to reduce the traffic noise as much as practicable. If the above measures fail to reduce the traffic noise to an acceptable level, the relevant authority will consider installing noise barriers. When planning for noise barriers, the relevant authority has to consider their impacts on landscape as well as the safety of road users, and design the noise barriers appropriately.

It is comparatively difficult to retrofit existing roads that generate traffic noise in excess of the noise limit. Where financially and technically feasible, the relevant authority will consider to install noise barriers and resurface suitable road sections with low noise materials and, taking into account the need to balance different interests, the feasibility of implementing traffic management measures (such as speed limit and vehicular traffic restriction at night and outside rush hours) that will reduce traffic noise.

End/Wednesday, November 6, 2002

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