Traffic noise survey during and after the traffic closing of the city centre in a middle size town

A traffic noise survey was conducted in a middle size north-west Italian town, Vercelli, regarding the impact on the noise deriving from the traffic closing of the city centre. The measurements were carried out during two days: the closing and normal traffic conditions ones. Four locations were chosen in the city centre and five locations on the five entries to the town. The closing of the city centre has abated dramatically the traffic (only permitted vehicles were circulating). In one of the sites, during all the day, the vehicles ranged from about 14,000 to 1,100 vehicles and the noise decreased by about 10 dBA. Also in the peripheral locations a decreasing of traffic was recorded, until 25% in a site, but a very slight abatement of noise (1.3 dBA) was measured.