By 2010, the Danish Government aims to reduce the number of dwellings exposed to noise levels over 65dB(A) by 100,000 (about two-thirds). In a 1998 report, the Danish Ministry of Transport and Environmental Protection Agency view two-layer porous asphalt as potentially the most efficient way of achieving these aims. Despite positive Dutch experience, there are several reasons for testing this material before its full-scale use in Denmark. Traffic, weather conditions, and road maintenance may differ in Denmark, influencing noise reduction, traffic safety, and pavement durability. Danish asphalt companies have less experience of laying the material. The Dutch do not yet have long-term experience of noise-reducing effects. In August 1999, an 800m long street section in Copenhagen was repaved. Four different pavements were laid, to develop and test two-layer porous asphalt as a noise-reducing tool under Danish conditions. The project includes measuring and recording of noise, absorption, surface structure, traffic safety, pavement condition, and winter maintenance; it includes questionnaires for people living near the road. The development of noise as pavements age will be studied, and there will be some controlled tests. Traffic safety is being studied through several before-and-after measurements.
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