REPORTING. Paris is experimenting with anti-noise bitumen to reduce traffic noise pollution

For several years, 200 meters of a street in the 15th arrondissement of the capital have been covered with a sound-proof covering which absorbs the noise of cars.

Sleep disorders, blood pressure, stress: noise causes more than 10,000 premature deaths each year in Europe. Large cities, in particular, are looking for new ways to combat urban noise. For example, a noise-reducing bitumen, a sound-proof coating, tested in several streets of Paris.

For five years, this bitumen has covered 200 meters of rue Lecourbe in the 15th arrondissement of the capital. It hides microporosities which absorb part of the rolling noise of the tires. Not enough to convince this local resident, like many others: “I never paid attention to it. The friction is the same, it’s not spectacular.”

Minus three decibels after installation

And yet, this soundproofing is effective. It was especially so in the year after installation: minus three decibels, explains Dan Lert, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of the environment: “Minus three decibels of friction on the bitumen, that means that on the facade, for example when you open your window, you have half the noise. There, we are looking over time at how this coating works and how it wears out. There is an attenuation but it is only an attenuation: after a year you still have effects, of course.”

Promising solution therefore but perfectible. Especially since it does not attack engines or other traffic noise. Hence the work of Cécile Régnaut, architect, researcher at the Lyon school of architecture. She is currently working on a neighborhood project in Asnières-sur-Seine, near Paris: “We have a magnificent site but there is a 4×4 lane in front.”

Create sound barriers with buildings

To resolve the problem, among the solutions: the layout of buildings and their facades: “We are trying to work on how sound will propagate or not. We will try to create sound barriers with buildings, to be able to create pockets of silence in interior courtyards, for example.”

“On a very parallel, very smooth facade, the sound will bounce several times: we avoid this kind of thing. The idea is to also work with plant facades which have this absorbing power.”

Cécile Régnault, architect

at franceinfo

Also crucial is the terrain relief: “The example would be a park where we see that there are small valleys, which we can recreate artificially so that noise infiltrates as little as possible. It will be trapped by its valleys.” Reflections now usual for any new project. As for those who live in old buildings, take advantage of the challenge of energy renovation, advises Cécile Régnaut, certain thermal insulators also allow you to cut yourself off from the hubbub of the city.