Federal highways connect regions—and at the same time cut through towns where traffic noise impacts residential areas day and night. Active noise control at the source provides more effective relief for residents than passive measures on buildings, and it visibly enhances the appearance of roads passing through towns when the walls are covered with vegetation. We supply green, highly absorbent noise barriers for new construction, expansion, and noise remediation projects along federal highways—complete with bid specifications for contracting, backfill typically made from locally sourced soil, and vegetation that requires no irrigation. As a member of the German Association for Noise Protection along Transportation Routes, we support highway authorities, municipalities, and engineering firms from our base in Kaufbeuren through all project phases.
Noise Abatement in Existing Structures—Opportunities for Noisy Through-Roads
On many federal highways, the current infrastructure dates back to decades when noise protection was hardly a consideration, while traffic has since increased significantly. For such existing stretches, noise abatement programs are in place that can fund noise barriers even without new construction projects; We work with local authorities to determine which options are available; our overview of reference projects showcases completed installations along roads. The acoustic design is based on calculations provided by the road construction authority, which determine the location, height, and length of the barrier. We translate these specifications into green, highly absorbent systems that absorb traffic noise rather than reflecting it onto the buildings across the street—in town thoroughfares lined with buildings on both sides, this is the crucial difference compared to smooth concrete or aluminum walls. For the bidding process, we provide specifications and construction drawings; the planting plan is included in the package. Construction is carried out as a turnkey project by our teams or as a kit for the contracted road construction company, section by section while traffic continues to flow. We coordinate the schedule with road maintenance crews so that road closures and marking work can be bundled together, keeping traffic disruptions to a minimum.
Townscape and Ecology Along the Through Road
Residents see the wall every day from their side of the property, and that is exactly where a project’s acceptance is determined. A noise barrier with extensive greenery presents living greenery rather than a gray surface to the residential side, traps fine particulate matter from through traffic, and requires no irrigation system because the plants at the base of the wall utilize natural precipitation. In Buchloe, we implemented a custom design that combines glass elements for visual connections with RAU Rock and Klimawand—an approach that can be applied to town thoroughfares with shops and intersections. The RAU Klimawand R3 comes with certified environmental credentials; its Climate Handprint demonstrates that emissions from raw materials, production, transportation, and construction are offset by the vegetation within a few years—the assessment was verified by KlimAktiv. Where street space is limited, RAU Rock Extensiv—with a minimum width of 13 cm—creates the necessary buffer zone between the roadway and the property line. Upon completion, our service crews can, upon request, take over the care of the vegetation as part of routine route maintenance.
