CRI听力：Shanghai Takes Measures to Reduce Noise from Construction Site

This year there are again various big construction projects in Shanghai and many of them are located downtown. But residents are feeling more and more at ease even if they are living next to a construction site. 

Let's follow our Shanghai correspondent Chen Simeng to take a look.

Reporter:

I am standing in a residential development just next to a construction site. In order to reduce the noise, constructors placed a noise barrier on a wall separating the site from the community. This type of sound insulation board has rarely been used in construction projects in Shanghai, it seems quite effective.

Residents say they are feeling more comfortable about next to a construction site and the noise it produces.

"It's not very noisy during daytime. I am living here. It's quite quiet at night."

In addition to the noise reduction measures, efforts have also been taken to lower dust pollution. For example, green plants are placed on top of unused sand, and watered regularly everyday.

Gu Yonglin is vice general manager of the Shanghai Fifth Construction Company.

"We are trying to make residents in these neighborhoods feel as if there were no construction sites nearby."

This year, quite a few metro lines projects will begin with excavation. To reduce the affect of the projects on traffic, Shanghai authorities will adopt a cut-and-cover construction technique, one of the most advanced construction methods in the world.

This new method allows underground construction and normal traffic to travel above ground at the same time using the separation of a board on the tunnel. The board can be removed easily when necessary.

Liu Heliang is the chief in charge of the metro projects.

"The adoption of the method will add another 3 million yuan to the cost. But the boards can be reused. So in consideration of that, it's a cost saving."

Shanghai construction authorities have issued 15 regulations to reduce the effects of construction on citizens' lives, posing strict limits on dust, soil and noise.

For China Drive, I'm Chen Simeng…