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In 2004 park officials retained landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates to design the new waterfront for Brooklyn Bridge Park. His solution to mute the traffic noise coming off the BQE was to erect a physical barrier between the roadway and the landscaped area, but some folks have declared that this current $7 million solution has numerous problems (most notably that it simply won't work).
Earlier this week the Manhattan-based architecture firm Studio for Civil Architecture along with Hage Engineering released their proposal for a visual and sound barrier between the BQE and Brooklyn Bridge Park, dubbed the Brooklyn Bridge Connector. The barrier includes the use of steel arches, sound barrier shells, and a solar canopy. The architectural contraption even comes with its own website that simulates real-world conditions at the project site! The architect told the Brooklyn Paper that his proposal would "reduce current BQE noise from 85 decibels to 65 decibels—five decibels quieter" than the Van Valkenburgh noise-blocking mountains.
Curbed reported this week that this isn't the only silencing solution out there. There's also this eco-friendly one that includes a bio fuel gas station, and the design uses vegetation and trees to absorb both the noise and car exhaust. Some of the renderings for this green plan are above, and there's a full set here.
File under: Neat—but will it ever happen? There's likely to be many more proposals by the time this section of the BQE is actually set to get some work done (Cubed notes that's around 2018). The public scoping process for the renovation begins sometime in the next two months, during which time more suggestions will be welcome.
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Can we have an NYU silencer, too?
Of course it will! And we'll all be able to take the 2nd avenue subway extension right there! We can bask in the fertile crescent between a completed world trade center complex and a tailgate party for the Brooklyn Nets.
This idea is so fabulous and makes so much sense to improving the quality of life in the surrounding community that it will never come to fruition.
The surrounding community has an extremely high quality of life. This money could be better spent elsewhere.
Why doesn't the city hand out earplugs at the park? It's cheaper.
I want a Barney Frank silencer.
That thing is a park??
Apparently over the speed of 25 mph, 100% of noise from a car comes from the tyres. (except sportscars and badly tuned cars)
How about reducing the noise at the source, instead of trying to cover it up?
And it would save tax money that the commmunity could put that tax money to better use.
my 2 cents.
File this under waste of time...
It's kind of like a Parisian whore covering her scent.
Dam !
That would be putting a lid on Elizabeth, NJ
Oh for the smell of Kearny, New Jersey on a warm August afternoon as one dips down into the approach of the east bound Pulaski highway from local 1 and 9 north.
You made a funny about New Jersey!
New Yorkers should focus on their disproportionate genital herpes rate & their disgusting bedbug infestation problem before making jokes about others.
NYC is a walking, talking hoard of filth & disease. At least a night in Kearny does not lead to the life long gift of the herp & a desperate call to the exterminator.
And NYC in August blesses ones senses with the pleasant blend of garbage juice & warmed up urine. Ahh! Refreshing........
i need to see the graffit on the rooftops off the bqe, please do not install this ugly thing...
If they build it (IF!) you'll be able to see graffiti on the BQE silencer roof from Brooklyn Heights!
Make the BQE bicycle only. That'll get rid of the noise.
They'll never live to see it.
-bit it's kinda cool!