WORK on the long awaited noise walls at south Berry adjacent to the Berry Bypass is set to start.
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This month in fact, with preliminary vegetation removal and surveying, but the major construction work won't get underway until early next year.
Local company GC Civil has been awarded the contract to build the Berry structures, which will run on both sides of the Princes Highway, at Windsor Drive and next to Huntingdale Park Road.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward has announced the two noise barriers at Berry and an extension to a noise barrier near Coryule Place at Kiama, with the NSW Government committing $5.3 million towards the projects.
Preliminary designs have been submitted and accepted, with final designs yet to be officially released.
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Mr Ward said the construction of the noise barriers along the Princes Highway will address noise concerns raised by the local community.
The noise walls will be built using half solid and half transparent acoustic panels, as was the preference of the community.
At Berry the structures will run for around 300 metres on both sides of the highway, south of the Kangaroo Valley Road overpass.
The structures will be included in the mounded areas that already exist on either side of the bypass.
On the Windsor Drive side, the structure will be around four and a half metres off the ground, while on the Huntingdale Park Road side, which is already considerably higher, the structures will be around six and a half metres high.
"I am very pleased to have secured this funding having listened to our local community and having raised the need for these noise walls in Berry and Kiama directly with the Minister," Mr Ward said.
"The noise walls will be built using half solid and half transparent acoustic panels, as was the preference of the community."
He said the existing noise barrier on the Princes Highway near Coryule Place in Kiama would be extended to 3.5 metres high, also using transparent acoustic panels on steel frames.
"Local company GC Civil has been awarded both contracts and they will be using local companies for design, survey and geotechnical work," Mr Ward said.
"This project will create 10 jobs, including subcontractors."
Early work, including vegetation removal and survey, will start this month with construction expected to start in Kiama in late 2020 and in Berry in early 2021, weather permitting.
The Berry project is expected to be completed by August 2021.
The noise from the Berry Bypass has been a contentious issue since the new road virtually opened, with many south Berry residents saying the noise in their homes was "unbearable".
The residents, particularly from Windsor Drive undertook a campaign to get some relief.
"While the $580 million Berry Bypass has been beneficial for those who drive through here, for people who live around the area they expect a bit of extra peace and quiet," Mr Ward said.
"While we have met the criteria for noise when the project was delivered I heard the feedback from the residents and took up the fight. I made some noise myself and got some extra funding for additional noise walls.
"They will protect people around here from sound and noise. Sound and noise travels in very different ways, it can be based on the topography of the land and even the atmospheric conditions can affect how noise travels.
"Obviously when roads are wet they make additional noise as well. When we constructed the bypass, the hot mix and the foundations actually have a particular product in them that helps absorb noise."
In September 2019 residents participated in sound lab demonstrations to listen to modified recordings that reflect predicted noise levels following construction of the noise barriers, compared with noise recordings of the current environment.
Residents were asked to provide feedback to help inform the designs of the new noise barriers.
Geotechnical investigations were undertaken in November 2019 to help inform the designs for the proposed Berry noise barriers.
In early June 2020, funding was committed for the work, and the design and construct contract went out for tender and in August 2020 Transport for NSW engaged a contractor to design and construct the two noise barriers.
"Local residents are advised there is potential for some noise and dust impacts during work, which will include the removal of vegetation," Mr Ward said.
"Transport for NSW will keep the community updated on the progress of both projects."