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What is causing the problems ?
ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE
The percentage
of Prague’s inhabitants affected by excessive noise is very high,
primarily because of the following reasons:
• high
concentration of people in a relatively small area
• an
ever-increasing number of registered vehicles
• an inadequate
road system resulting from the absence of a backbone road network
• transit
traffic through Prague resulting from the absence of adequate ring
roads.
Added to these
reasons is yet another factor, namely the disrepair of roads which
were not designed to cope with today’s traffic loads. These are
particularly the roads which drivers attempt to use as a substitute
for completely clogged main arteries.
Prague still lacks a good connection between,
for example, Špejchar and Holešovice, Smíchov and Barrandov Bridge,
as well as the remaining parts of the municipal circuit (ring road).
An important project that was put into operation last year is the
Strahov Automotive Tunnel, also a major noise abatement measure, the
existence of which has already and would change, the noise situation
in a large area. It is true that the noise situation around its
southern entrance has temporarily worsened but it will calm down
once the final layout of local crossroads (including the Mrázovka
Tunnel) is in place.
A partial reduction of the traffic-generated noise has
also resulted from a reduction of the maximum speed limit in
municipalities. Noise assessment methodologies view a speed
reduction as a noise-abating measure, but the theory may differ from
practice, especially in Prague. It is interesting to note that there
is an ever-increasing number of situations in which an increase of
traffic leading to the traffic flow grinding to a complete halt does
not result in a higher noise level.
The daytime equivalent noise levels on busiest
roads passing through residential areas, e.g. Veletr?ní, Legerova,
Sokolovská, etc., may be as high as 80 dB(A).
The difference between daytime
and nighttime equivalent noise levels ranges between 4 and 12 dB(A).
The magnitude of the difference depends on local conditions, traffic
flow composition, type of traffic, etc.
AIR TRAFFIC NOISE
 Road traffic noise, noise-protection
barriers and aircraft noise
CONSTRUCTION
NOISE
Building work is a
source of very unpleasant excessive noise in the centre of the city.
People perceive this noise very sensitively as it represents an increase of noise
even in areas which are otherwise quiet and calm.
Meeting the existing
limits is presently impossible especially for earth-work
contractors and earthmovers. Many measurements have proven that the
daytime equivalent noise level limit - 65 dB(A) - is often exceeded
by more than 5 dB(A) particularly in residential areas in the centre
of Prague which are situated very close to the building project
sites. This observation is typical for apartment block projects in
the centre of Prague as exemplified by construction noise
measurements taken at the AGORA - FLORA building site in autumn
1997. Compared to applicable public health limits the measured
equivalent noise levels are too high.
Time curve of noise
levels on the AGORA - FLORA building site
Source:
AKMEST | 
