Guangzhou would use loans from the World Bank to install noise-reducing panels outside the windows of apartments neighboring the Inner Ring Road, the Yangcheng Evening News said Monday (September 22nd).

The bank had approved the municipal government's application, the newspaper said, quoting the city's construction commission.

There are about 500,000 people in Guangzhou living with traffic noise because of the sharp increase in the number of cars and the construction of the ring road and viaducts. More than 4,000 households alongside the road are affected.

In some areas near the ring road, daytime noise has been measured at seven decibels higher than the national limit of 70. It was even worse at nighttime when the noise reached at least 15 decibels more than the limit of 55.

The city has tried to reduce noise levels in recent years but has had little success. Modified asphalt used on the road had not been effective in noise reduction, while experts have suggested building low-noise roads with other materials.

Sound dampers beside the viaducts to reduce noise, dirt and waste gas have not been up to expectations and construction has been sporadic.

Two public tenders invited by the government have not succeeded in finding a qualified maker of noise-reducing panels. A third round of tenders that closed last Tuesday (September 16th) is now being examined.

Source: szdaily.