Influence of the structural arrangement of bridges on the noise induced by traffic

Many articles and papers about mitigating the impacts of the transport infrastructure on the environment have pointed out that one of the factors influencing the usage of underbridges for mammal migration is the noise induced by traffic. However, this phenomenon has not yet been properly investigated and verified. This paper describes the influence of the structural arrangement of bridges, mainly the bearings and expansion joints, and the location of the bridge in the countryside, on the noise induced by traffic. The findings come from noise measurements on several structures on the D1 motorway and the R35 expressway in the Czech Republic. The measured noise levels are juxtaposed with the migration potential of the bridge for wildlife.