SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will install noise barriers at three stretches of elevated train tracks along the East-West MRT line as part of its trials to assess the effectiveness of noise barriers.
Noise barriers will be installed at Tampines Street 21 (next to Block 296), Jurong East Street 13 (next to Block 110) and Toh Guan Road (next to Blk 266).
LTA said the noise
barriers at Tampines and Jurong East are similar to those installed at
the new viaduct at the Jurong East station as part of the Jurong East
Modification Project last year.
It added that these two
locations were selected for the tests as the eastern and western
stretches of the tracks come with two different designs.
The
trials will allow LTA to test the installation methodology of noise
barriers at different segments of viaducts, and assess the most
efficient way to customise them for other locations.
Work is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year and will take about a year to complete.
LTA said the noise barriers are expected to reduce noise levels from passing trains by at least 5 decibels.
Currently, the noise levels at Tampines St 21 and Jurong East St 13 are between 78 and 82 decibels.
A normal conversation typically measures about 60 decibels.
For the Toh Guan Road stretch, LTA said it would install a 150-metre long, 4.5-metre high noise barrier as part of the trial.
The
stretch is a turnout location, which is an area where two pieces of
track merge for trains to be diverted from one track to another.
Noise levels are higher when trains cross turnout locations.
LTA
said given the unique viaduct design at this turnout location, it would
assess the effectiveness of these noise barriers in mitigating the
noise impact.
The installation will begin in the third quarter and will take about one and a half years to complete.
LTA said the noise barrier at the turnout location is expected to reduce noise levels by up to 10 decibels.
The noise level at the Toh Guan Road viaduct is currently between 80 and 85 decibels.
The
installation is expected to cause minimum disturbance to existing track
facilities and equipment as work will be carried out during the narrow
window when train services are not operating.
Meanwhile, LTA said the noise barriers at Bishan will be installed by the end of June.
The
trials, together with the results of the island-wide noise measurement
study, will help LTA develop an implementation plan to reduce railway
noise at specific locations across the island.
LTA said it would share its preliminary implementation plan around the third quarter this year.
- CNA/al