EPD utilises innovative acoustic metamaterials to reduce noise impact and enhance project efficiency (with photos)
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Due to daytime traffic constraints, road maintenance works are generally conducted at night or on general holidays during road closure. The EPD will issue a construction noise permit under the Noise Control Ordinance, requiring contractors to minimise the construction noise impact on the surrounding environment during construction works. As a result, the planning and scheduling of road works must co-ordinate with temporary traffic arrangements and the limitation imposed by noisy powered mechanical equipment, such as handheld breakers that can generally only operate before midnight on weekdays, which further limit the daily project scale. Three nights are needed to complete the road resurfacing work in phases on Wan Tau Kok Lane by traditional construction methods.
Through co-ordination among the EPD, the HyD, relevant departments and the contractor, the construction work on Wan Tau Kok Lane in Tai Po adopted advanced quiet electric handheld breakers and an acoustic metamaterial enclosure. This successfully reduced the noise levels from road breaking work by 15 decibels A, significantly minimising the impact of the project on nearby residents and the community, thus meeting the needs of residents' daily lives and various community activities.
The construction work on the approximately 300-metre-long road was completed on February 1 (Sunday), from 8am to 10pm, encompassing processes such as removing the previous asphalt surface, breaking, cleansing, resurfacing and compacting, and the road section concerned was reopened at 10pm after a whole day of construction. This not only improved work efficiency compared to the original plan, which required three nights, but also minimised the impact on residents' lives over several days of construction. In addition, the acoustic metamaterial enclosure was lighter and more movable than the traditional enclosure, and the three-side louver design ensured good ventilation, enhancing workers' health and significantly improving the construction environment.
Throughout this project, the EPD maintained close communication with stakeholders, including local district council members, nearby residents, churches, homes for the elderly, and the Police. This collaboration successfully demonstrated a win-win model, and local residents and community groups responded positively to this road resurfacing work.
In Hong Kong's densely developed urban environment, roadworks present numerous challenges. Moving forward, the EPD will continue to collaborate with project proponents to widely apply the innovative technology in road projects, aiming to reduce necessary nighttime roadworks from several nights to one whole day on general holidays and minimise public impact.
Ends/Friday, February 6, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:55
Issued at HKT 15:55
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