Assessment of the impact of road surface milling on the acoustic climate in its vicinity

Road noise emission is a significant environmental problem, particularly in urban areas. One of the factors influencing the level of emitted sound is the technical condition of the road pavement. This article presents the results of a field tests conducted on a main road with accelerated traffic (Polish road class "GP"), aimed at evaluating the impact of pavement milling on the noise levels generated by passing vehicles. Two sections were analysed, one with an unmilledpavement and the other with a milled pavement. It was found that the intact pavement is characterized by a lower noise level, with an average difference of 2,1 dB. Additionally, spatial noise distribution calculations showed an increased range of isophones in the case of the milled surface. The results confirm that the pavement condition plays a crucial role in shaping the acoustic environment and should be taken into account in the design, modernization, and maintenance of road infrastructure.