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Noise reduction is important for residential environments to ensure the quality of living. ProRail has provided a noise barrier of 1,200 meters in length within the 'UtARK' project for this reason. In the 'UtARK' project, the tracks between Utrecht Central Station and Leidsche Rijn will be doubled from two to four tracks. Besides the track works, realization of engineering structures and the construction of a bridge, which were carried out by BAM, there was also a government noise abatement assignment for this route. As a result, noise barriers had to be installed.
Through a tender, ProRail put the design and construction of the noise barriers on the market as a separate project. ProRail set the condition that the construction had to be carried out simultaneously with the work to be performed by BAM. The executing party for the realization of the noise barriers within UtARK is Knipscheer Rail-Infra. We speak with Arjan Beens, manager at the company, about this special project.
Vibration-free work for less inconvenience
"In Utrecht, you come across the screen we've built now in several places. Designed by an architect, these sound screens meander through the city, all in a uniform look, but individually designed and graffiti and vandal-proof," Beens opens the conversation. "First of all, we installed steel foundation piles in-house for this sound barrier. This was done vibration-free, so as not to burden the surroundings. On top of the piles, a concrete cover gap was installed, on which steel, modular attachments were mounted, with transparent panels and aluminum beams."
Back in 2008, Knipscheer Rail-Infra installed one of the first noise barriers from this series. "Now the screen within the UtARK project has arrived, totaling 1,200 meters in length with heights ranging from 1.5 meters to 4.5 meters. The sound insulation is 30 dB, thus reducing the train noise to an acceptable level for the residential area behind," Beens outlines.
A contractual marriage with a 'golden edge'
The completion of the noise barrier took place on January 31 of this year. Beens is very satisfied with the collaboration with BAM: "In this context, it is the first time that we have worked with BAM as a secondary contractor on such a postage stamp. We entered into a contractual marriage and that worked out well for both parties. The cooperation on the construction site was downright pleasant, thanks in part to the mutual clear communication and short lines of communication."
