Written question asked by Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 April 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 April 2004. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 April 2004 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sound-absorbing concrete in reducing traffic noise.

Answer: Mr. Watson: :To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sound-absorbing concrete in reducing traffic noise. [166849] Mr. Jamieson: :The Highways Agency is keeping in touch with developments in Europe on work on noise absorbing concrete. In general, porous concrete has been shown to have similar noise absorbing properties to porous asphalt, with the same disadvantages of high cost and loss of benefit over time as the pores become clogged. Initial trials in European countries of a new surfacing using a resonant cavity formed in concrete below porous asphalt, have given lower noise reduction benefits than expected.

Secondary information