EXPRESSWAYS have created several noise hot spots in Singapore, and the Environment Ministry (ENV) is working on ways to reduce noise in these areas, following a study by a consultant.

ENV also announced new noise curbs for construction sites that will take effect in October and spell quieter evenings for residents.

Senior Minister of State (Environment) Sidek Saniff said early findings pointed to several blocks of flats fronting the expressways where the noise level was high.

It engaged the consultant because increased urbanisation and widening of expressways had boosted noise levels along certain stretches.

‘I’his is despite the fact that "quieter’ porous asphalt was used on some expressways.

Noise-emission standards had also been set for vehicles.

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan (Kreta Ayer-Tanglin GRC) said some residents told him that the "unbearable" traffic noise had "impaired" their hearing.

The noise was bad not only in the day, he said, "but also late, as late as 10 pm, 11 pm and midnight".

In some blocks in his ward and in Whampoa Drive that were being upgraded by the HDB, the space-adding item could not be built.

"That’s how close some of these flats are to the expressways," he said.

Mr Sidek said that government agencies would look at how noise levels at these blocks could be reduced.

Mr Ileng Chiang Meng (Cheng San GRC) complained about noisy pilin methods which were use too near to residential areas.

Why, he asked, were percussion hammers being allowed when quieter methods were available?

Mr Sidek noted in his reply that complaints about construction noise had risen to 33 a week last year, from 21 a week in 1999.

This happened although construction activity had gone down by about 20 per cent.

So from October, there will be new noise caps on construction sites within 150 m of homes.

From 7pm to 10 pm, the noise cannot exceed an average of 65 decibels in an hour, or 70 decibels over a five-minute period.

From 10 pm to 7 am, the cap is 55 decibels averaged over an hour, or 60 decibels over five minutes.

During this period, when most people are asleep, "only quiet work such as bricklaying, plastering and painting can be done".

"With a more stringent control of a noisy construction site, we hope that residents living close to construction sites will have quieter evenings and more restful nights."

Parliament passed the Ministry of Environment’s $883.M2 million budget.

Source : The Straits Times, Mar 17, 2001

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