Revised Noise Mitigation Strategy for Bremen City
Bremen's Noise Action Plan 2024: Reducing Noise Pollution in the City
Road traffic is the primary source of noise in Bremen's city, and the authorities are taking steps to address this issue. The Noise Action Plan 2024, presented by the Senator for Environment, Climate, and Science on September 3rd, aims to reduce noise pollution and improve the livability of the city.
The plan is based on the noise mappings of 2022, created according to a new European calculation guideline. The focus is on major urban roads with high traffic noise levels, where speed limits may be reduced to 30 km/h to decrease noise and improve safety. Roads under review for potential speed limit changes include Osterdeich and Hastedter Osterdeich, Lilienthaler and Borgfelder Heerstraße, Am Dobben, Breitenweg including overhead road, Buntentorsteinweg, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße, Gröpelinger Heerstraße, Hansestraße, Kurfürstenallee, Langemarckstraße, Rembertiring, Schwachhauser Heerstraße, and Waller Heerstraße.
However, specific information about which roads have planned 30 km/h speed limit implementations and the exact roads affected by the Noise Action Plan 2024 can only be found on the official Bremen city government website or local transportation/noise control authority documents.
Protecting "quiet areas" is a key goal of the plan, with a fixed decibel limit set to safeguard these zones. Measures have been developed in a working group to contain the noise, and almost 150 "quiet areas" with high residential quality have been designated for protection from increased noise.
One of the areas under consideration for noise reduction measures is Steffensweg, where the complete replacement of the road surface between Hansestraße and Bremerhavener Straße was planned for 2024-2026. However, the original timeline may not be guaranteed. The redesign and surface change of Steffensweg are still being pursued, and the replacement of cobblestones with asphalt, a recommendation from the 2014 noise action plan, is still being considered due to high costs.
The renovation of Lange Reihe street is currently ongoing and expected to be completed this year. Other roads undergoing replacement or redesign may also see the replacement of road surfaces as a means to reduce noise.
Environment Senator Kathrin Moosdorf emphasizes the specific proposals in the Noise Action Plan 2024 for reducing noise and improving the livability of Bremen. The plan also includes a two-stage public participation process to ensure the community's input is considered.
In addition to speed limit reductions and road surface changes, the plan also considers implementing a 30 km/h speed limit at night on roads with the highest noise impact to further reduce noise pollution. The introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit was listed as the most effective method for reducing noise impact in the noise action plan.
The Noise Action Plan 2024 is part of a broader effort to make Bremen a quieter, more livable city. Every five years, noise action plans are reviewed and updated to ensure they remain effective in addressing the city's noise issues.
Science plays a crucial role in the Noise Action Plan 2024, as environmental science is used to identify areas with high noise levels and develop strategies for reduction.
The plan also addresses climate change and health-and-wellness by considering the implementation of a 30 km/h speed limit at night on roads with the highest noise impact to reduce noise pollution, improving the overall environment and well-being of Bremen's inhabitants.
