NOISE POLLUTION

Dr Ker Sin Tze asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will consider installing sound barriers to reduce traffic noise pollution along expressways.

Mr Goh Chong Chia asked the Minister for the Environment, as vehicles and MRT trains are additional sources of noise when they pass near residential areas and schools, whether he will consider introducing acoustic barriers to reduce the impact of the noise to the residential areas and schools.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: My Ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Ministry of National Development to reduce the noise problem from vehicles and MRT trains on nearby residential areas and schools. Some of the measures taken include the imposition of set-back distance on roads and train tracks from residential buildings, noise standards for new and in-use vehicles, road design, and the use of low-noise MRT trains. Studies have shown that the noise levels at residential buildings and schools near roads and MRT tracks are generally within the guidelines adopted by ENV.

The Land Transport Authority previously studied the use of noise barriers along expressways. It found that such barriers may not be effective in shielding noise in Singapore's high-rise setting, because they cannot effectively block the noise on the higher floors, unless they completely envelop the entire expressway. Nevertheless, LTA will study each case on its own merits, and if feasible and effective, will consider erecting noise barriers.

We must recognise however that in land-scarce and highly-urbanised Singapore, some degree of noise pollution is inevitable. While we can impose certain building set-back and other requirements at the planning stage for new developments, there is much less room to reduce noise problem in built-up areas with an intensive road network and heavy traffic flows.