Road traffic noise monitoring program for the operation of "Nea Odos S.A." Motorway, at the sections: Metamorfossi - Skarfia (Pathe Motorway) & Arta and agrinio urban agglomerations by Pass (Ionia Motorway)

Abstract

Nea Odos S.A. is the Concessionaire of the Project "Design, Construction, Financing, Operation, Maintenance and Exploitation" of Ionia Odos Motorway (from Antirrio to Ioannina) and PATHE Motorway (from Metamorfossi to Skarfia). The pertinent Concession Agreement, through its Approved Environmental Terms, specifies that the Concessionaire monitors the Motorway Traffic Noise on an annual basis, so as to evaluate the impact of the Motorway Traffic on the traffic noise indices specified by the European Directive 2002/49/EC (L1, L10, L50, L95, L99, Lmax and Lmin, L10(18hr), LAeq(08.00-20.00), LAeq(24h, as well as the new indices of Lden, & Lnight), the effectiveness of the installed traffic noise protection barriers, and the subsequent adoption of the necessary noise protection measures. The Annual Noise Monitoring Program for 2015 included 24 hour noise measurements in a total of 55 distinct geographical positions, in both directions of PATHE Motorway and 6 positions in the operating sections of Ionia Odos, Arta and Agrinio Bypasses. The results show that, in positions were noise protection measures have been adopted, the traffic noise indices remain within the allowed limits. Exceeding of the noise indices limits was recorded in five positions, one of which requires further monitoring in the next annual program and two situated outside official urban planning limits. In the remaining two positions, the relevant noise protection measures are needed. In positions were noise barriers are foreseen but not constructed yet, due to construction related obstacles, the program showed the importance of the noise mitigation measures and the necessity of their imminent adoption.