[Goldwingnut]

Originally Posted by valuemkt

I'm no engineer, but do those "berms" really prevent much noise from the turnpike ?? Those homes look awfully close.

I was curious also about the effectiveness also so I took a sound pressure meter with me when I visited Linden that Sunday and noted between 6 and 10 db lower sound level difference at the bottom (house level) as compared to the top of the berm. There are also a large number of trees and bushes on the top of the berm that will further attenuate the sound as they mature over the next year or so. The Turnpike itself is significantly lower (20-25 ft.) than the top of the berm and the homes so much of the sound is deflected upwards.

Subjectively, there was a considerable difference from the top of the hill to the bottom and as I moved closer to the homes and farther from the berm it seemed even less. When I walked to the actual street between the houses, about 75 ft from the bottom of the berm, I could not distinguish any Turnpike noise from the other background noise.