The impact of heavy vehicles on residents on arterial roads and state highways.

This paper describes investigations that have been undertaken on the effect of heavy vehicle traffic on residents. The roads selected were predominantly regional arterial roads and had heavy vehicle volumes ranging from 2.1 per cent to 32 per cent of total traffic volume. The study had two main components, a residents’ survey and an environmental analysis of the roads. Results showed that traffic was the main community concern on the roads surveyed. The level of concern was not related to the actual volume of heavy vehicles but to the perceived volume, especially any perceived change in volume. The main concern about heavy vehicles appeared to be the nuisance that they caused. In addition, comments about exhaust fumes often related to heavy vehicles. The environmental survey revealed few differences in road environment between roads where residents mentioned disliking heavy vehicles and those where they did not. The only differences that emerged were differences in change in noise level when heavy vehicles passed and differences in the noise protection afforded by fencing, trees, and house construction. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E213656.