Managing traffic noise

27 July 2026

Artist impression of new noise walls and upgraded Main Yarra Trail at Willsmere Park in Kew East - Artist's impression of new noise walls and upgraded Main Yarra Trail at Willsmere Park in Kew East

Hoddle Street to Burke Road

As part of North East Link, we’re upgrading the Eastern Freeway.

From speaking with the local community, we know traffic noise is a key focus for residents.

Across the Eastern Freeway, we’re designing and building the project upgrades to meet Victoria’s most stringent traffic noise standard.

The project design is reviewed by the project’s Independent Environmental Auditor for compliance, and traffic noise will be monitored for 20 years once the Eastern Freeway Upgrades are complete to ensure residents are protected from traffic noise for years to come.

The noise standard will manage noise at the most affected properties – those closest to the freeway – so others further away will also gain the benefits.

Day

63 decibel protection during the day.

Night

58 decibel protection at night.

Traffic noise will be monitored for 20 years once the Eastern Freeway Upgrades are complete to ensure the noise standard continues to be met.

Artist impression of-Eastern-Busway-bridge-at-Chandler-Highway-in-Kew 2 - Artist’s impression of new noise walls near Chandler Highway interchange and upgraded freeway lanes with a quieter road surface, Kew.

About the project noise standard

The upgraded Eastern Freeway will meet a daytime noise standard of 63 decibels. This is in line with the highest level of residential traffic noise protection in Victoria.

In response to community feedback, the upgraded freeway will also meet a quieter 58 decibel standard at night. This is a first for a road project in Victoria and makes the noise standard for the upgraded Eastern Freeway the most stringent in the state.

In response to community feedback, the length of time traffic noise will be monitored once the upgraded freeway is open was also increased from 10 years to 20 years, giving residents greater long-term assurance.

63 decibels is around the same noise level as a general conversation.

How the noise standard was set

The noise standard was set through the project’s Environment Effects Statement (EES) process. It was informed by community feedback about local issues and concerns, existing noise policies and technical assessments.

An EES is Victoria’s most transparent and robust environmental impact assessment process.

3500 pieces of community feedback

The EES for the Eastern Freeway Upgrades took close to 2 years to prepare and considered more than 3500 pieces of community feedback.

The EES was also reviewed by a Technical Reference Group and an Independent Inquiry and Advisory committee. Members included specialists with expertise in environmental assessments, traffic and transport planning, environmental science, human health and noise.

How the noise standard will be met

Quieter road surfaces

The upgrades to the Eastern Freeway will install quieter road surfaces to better manage traffic noise at the source.

For the section of works between Hoddle Street and Burke Road, more than six kilometres of quieter road surface will be installed.

Where traffic speeds exceed 50km/h, tyre noise is the main source of noise. Air is rapidly compressed and released between tyres and the road, creating high pressure sound waves. At speeds above 80km/h, tyre noise is the biggest contributor to total road noise levels.

Noise reducing asphalt, also known as open-graded asphalt, works by using small air pockets in the surface of the road to absorb noise.

The open surface also allows water to drain directly through the pavement layer. This reduces traffic spray and glare in wet weather, reduces road noise and improves safety.

The quieter road surface installed for the upgraded Eastern Freeway will be monitored every 12 months to ensure it continues to reduce traffic noise to the required levels.

Graded_Asphalt_Diagram_FA_WEB.png

The project noise standard requires the quieter road surface, existing noise walls and new noise walls to all be maintained as needed to meet the required noise levels.

Existing noise walls

Where existing noise walls meet the project’s stringent noise standard, they will be kept.

On-site assessments and extensive noise modelling have confirmed where existing noise walls can be kept.

Where existing noise walls are being kept, they will be refurbished and refreshed. Each panel will be inspected for integrity and replaced or repaired where required. All retained noise walls will also be painted to remove graffiti, improve their appearance and further extend their life.

Keeping noise walls that do not need to be replaced significantly reduces construction disruption and allows more trees to be retained.

Reducing construction disruption and minimising tree and vegetation removal are requirements for the final project design that were developed with community input through the EES.

By not replacing noise walls that don’t need it, the project is also more sustainable, as we’re not creating unnecessary new materials or waste.

Keeping existing noise walls:

meets the project’s stringent noise standard
avoids unnecessary works.

New noise walls

New noise walls will be built in locations where noise modelling shows they are needed.

This includes where:

existing noise walls need to be made higher
homes near the freeway currently have no noise walls
we need to move existing noise walls to make room for new freeway lanes or upgrades to entry and exit ramps.

For the section of works from Hoddle Street to Burke Road, new noise walls will be built using recycled plastic panels moulded into textures and patterns inspired by the surrounding environment including existing rock escarpments. Colours will use a palette of earthy soil, rock and stone, with new trees and plants to help filter views.

Recycled plastic is a highly dense material with excellent sound absorption qualities and makes the project more sustainable. It also means new noise walls are lighter, so they can be installed more easily, with less heavy machinery and less disruption.

The panels are manufactured locally, can be textured on both sides to provide a high-quality finish and provide a less adhesive surface for paint or graffiti – making them easier to clean and maintain than concrete or other porous materials.

Heights for new noise walls will be kept as low as possible to provide a good visual outcome while still meeting the project noise standard.

Artist's impression of new walking and cycling bridge over the Yarra River in Kew

Managing noise at public open space

Where new or upgraded noise walls are needed to protect residents near public open space from traffic noise, these are included in the project design.

Within public open space areas, the noise standard requires noise levels to meet those modelled for the EES. In areas people can access and spend the most time in, the levels are around the same 63 decibel requirement as the residential noise standard.

Image: Artist’s impression of River Circuit Trail under new walking and cycling bridge over the Yarra River, Kew.

Modelling and monitoring to ensure compliance

Noise modelling

Extensive noise modelling is used to ensure the new noise standard will be met.

The noise model builds a 3D map of the freeway and surrounding area and considers:

The 20-year project noise requirement, all freeway and busway lanes, on- and off- ramps as well as intersections with other roads.
Future projected traffic volumes, types of vehicles and signposted speeds (using the maximum values for each).
Road gradient, design and surface type.
Topography such as hills, valleys and escarpments as well as ground conditions for sound reflection or absorption.
The location and height of structures such as noise walls and buildings including the sound attenuation provided as well as any increase from reflections.

The noise model is validated using noise measurements collected from monitors near the freeway. Locations close to the freeway are used to provide the most reliable results, and to avoid potential interference from other sources of noise.

Noise monitoring for the freeway upgrades between Hoddle Street and Burke Road was completed in 2025, before temporary speed reductions on the Eastern Freeway began and outside of school holidays. Traffic monitoring to record vehicle numbers, types, speeds and direction, was also completed at the same time to further validate the noise data collected and the noise model.

Noise modelling is completed at each stage of the project design, and compliance with the project noise standard is verified by the project’s Independent Environmental Auditor.

Monitoring noise levels in the future

Traffic noise will be monitored for 20 years once the Eastern Freeway Upgrades are complete to ensure the noise standard continues to be met. If noise is above the required level, we will take action to reduce noise at the affected properties.

The locations for permanent noise monitoring stations will be established in consultation with the project’s Independent Environmental Auditor and EPA Victoria.

The results will be available on an interactive online map. Residents will be able to search for their area, find noise information and, if needed, make a query or complaint online.

The first noise monitoring will be done 6 months after the upgraded freeway opens to traffic. The noise monitoring program will be verified by the project’s Independent Environmental Auditor before the results are published on the online map.

About noise levels

Noise is measured on a scale of units called decibels or dB for short. Noise measurements are usually adjusted to reflect how noise is perceived by the human ear. This is called ‘A’ weighted decibels or dBA.

Doubling the amount of traffic (for example from 100,000 vehicles per day to 200,000 vehicles per day) increases the noise level by about 3 dB(A). An increase in noise level of 3 dB(A) is only just perceptible to the human ear.

Lowering traffic speeds from 100 km/hr to 80 km/hr reduces traffic noise by about 1.5 decibels. A noise reduction of 1.5 decibels is not perceptible to the human ear.

10723_Noise_Scale_Diagram_FA_WEB.png

Frequently asked questions

Along with repairing sections of existing noise walls, a quieter road surface will be installed and regularly maintained to better manage traffic noise at the source. Extensive noise modelling has confirmed the heights of the existing noise walls are sufficient to meet the new project noise standard. On site studies of the existing panels have confirmed they provide sufficient sound attenuation through the wall.

Existing noise walls being retained will undergo a detailed inspection. Panels requiring repair will be identified, mapped and refurbished in accordance with approved design drawings.

Refurbishment works will include replacing missing or broken panels, repairing loose panels, closing gaps between panels and posts, and earthwork reinstatement at the base.

At the completion of the repairs, all existing noise walls will be painted to remove graffiti, improve their appearance and further extend their life.

Where noise modelling shows new noise walls are needed, they are being constructed from the freeway side where possible.

To build the new noise walls – including access paths at the back of the wall for maintenance – construction equipment and tree removal will still be required on the residential side of the noise wall.

New noise walls also require deep footings. This usually requires tree removal to make room for construction machinery, or for trees to be removed due to impacts below the surface on roots.

Locations for noise monitors have been selected to provide the most accurate data for the purpose of calibrating the noise model.

Because the noise model assesses traffic noise that comes from the freeway, the most accurate locations for monitoring are close to the freeway where there is limited interference from other surrounding sources of noise.

The closest properties to the freeway in Alphington are around 400 metres away from the freeway, which means there is a high likelihood of noise from other sources impacting the monitoring measurements. This would give unreliable data and make the noise modelling less accurate.

Noise modelling confirms that future freeway noise at all residential properties in Alphington is within the levels required by the project noise standard, and additional noise walls on the north side of the freeway are not required.

Installing a quieter road surface, refurbishing existing noise walls and constructing new noise walls where modelling shows they are needed, will meet the project’s stringent noise standard.

Typically, traffic volumes need to at least double for there to be a noticeable change in noise levels. For example, doubling the number of vehicles a day from 100,000 to 200,000 (which is an increase of 100%) would increase noise levels by about 3 dBA. An increase in noise level of 3 dB(A) is only just perceptible to the human ear.

Studies for the EES compared existing traffic volumes in 2017 with future traffic volumes for 2036 and found the increase between Chandler Highway and Burke Road will be much less than this - around 30% - which isn’t enough to make a noticeable change in noise levels. These figures include population growth.

The project noise standard is comparable to the NSW standard as the NSW standard uses an LAEQ measurement.

The NSW LAEQ measurement averages noise levels out across the full day. The Victorian and project noise standard uses an LA10 measurement. This averages the top 10% of noise levels for each hour across the day. An LAEQ measurement is typically 3 decibels lower than an LA10 measurement for road traffic noise, and an LAEQ 60 decibel level and LA10 63 decibel level are almost equivalent.

The project noise standard requires noise levels to be monitored for 20 years after the upgraded Eastern Freeway opens to traffic, giving residents long term assurance for noise levels. The NSW standard typically requires noise levels to be monitored for 10 years after project opening.

The project noise standard has adopted the WHO interim guideline for nighttime noise, and is the most stringent noise standard for a road project in Victoria. Human health studies for the project EES found there would be no measurable impact on human health from the project.

contact@bigbuild.vic.gov.au | 1800 105 105

For languages other than English please call 9209 0147.

If you need assistance due to a hearing or speech impairment, contact Relay Service.

Download fact sheet

Managing traffic noise - Hoddle Street to Burke Road Fact Sheet (PDF 2.7 MB)