A quieter route through Catanzaro: Noise protection on the Metro Line C viaduct
PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop XT
Solid sheets for noise control:
- sound-insulating
- thermoformable to create precise geometries
- high light transmittance and transparency for unobstructed views
- weather and UV-resistant for lasting outdoor use
- durable, with a 30-year guarantee against yellowing
- tough and low-maintenance in operation
The city of Catanzaro in southern Italy is expanding its transportation network with a metro line that connects the city, the coast and emerging development areas. A key new section in this expansion is the Line C viaduct, where the route runs along raised rails over a densely built-up part of the city. PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop shields nearby residents from the noise of passing trains.
Anyone who knows Catanzaro knows this: the city is anything but flat. The routes between the coastal district of Catanzaro Lido and the higher-lying neighborhoods of Calabria’s capital are time-consuming – and quickly turn into bottlenecks during rush hour. The metro in Catanzaro is therefore a vital means of transportation. The network covers 14 kilometers of track and 11 stations, and incorporates the kind of infrastructure expected in a city with a topography like Catanzaro’s: tunnels, viaducts, underpasses and crossings, all built within a complex urban environment.
PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop reduces noise along the route
Line C adds a new route to this network, linking the city center with busy destinations on its outskirts – in particular the Università Magna Graecia and its hospital grounds. The route’s layout is typical of Catanzaro: part of it runs above ground on a viaduct over a densely built-up area, then continues on through a tunnel section. The line does not just connect places, it also cuts travel time.
But how do planners prevent the new connection from becoming a constant source of noise for the local neighborhood? Because the track sits up high, noise is airborne and so carries even farther. The answer lies in choosing the right material for the most critical sections of the route: PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop XT for the viaduct’s noise barrier.
PLEXIGLAS® solid sheets adapt to the design shape
With noise control on a viaduct, it is vital that the barrier follows the geometry of the structure smoothly. The project’s team in Catanzaro opted for a system that combines a load-bearing steel framework with transparent barrier elements. The transparent, slightly C-shaped noise barrier elements are held between rib-like curved steel posts.
To fit this special structure, PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop XT in a thickness of 15 millimeters was used for the transparent elements. This specialized PLEXIGLAS® product for wind and noise control offers not only outstanding sound damping properties, it is also a thermoplastic material that can be easily formed into almost any shape. The solid sheets are heated to forming temperature at the factory and formed into the required shape. Once they have cooled, they hold the geometry and are ready for installation. The PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop XT sheets thus fit precisely and elegantly into the overall look of the Catanzaro viaduct, as the video on the construction project shows:
View from Above: Noise Barriers on the Viaduct in Catanzaro
Transparent noise barriers that prevent tunnel effects
PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop combines sound damping with high light transmittance. This is especially important when tracks run above ground: the route remains bright during the day, passengers have an unobstructed view of their surroundings and do not feel as if they are traveling through a boxed-in corridor. On long, continuous sections of noise barriers in particular, this material property helps to significantly reduce or even eliminate what is known as the tunnel effect.
PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop remains transparent over time
PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop XT is designed for permanent outdoor use. The sheets are exceptionally weather-resistant and built for long-term use under strong sunlight and fluctuating temperatures. For transparent versions of PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop, POLYVANTIS provides a 30‑year guarantee on high light transmittance with no visible yellowing. For an infrastructure project like the one in Catanzaro, that means that the noise protection remains effective over the long term, and the transparent elements retain their crystal-clear appearance for decades.
Noise control crucial to acceptance of the new metro line
Metro Line C is meant to shorten journey times to key destinations in Catanzaro. Whether it is accepted by the residents depends not only on how often the trains run, but also on how well the line integrates into the cityscape. The viaduct section is the real test: here, the metro line and residential buildings meet in close quarters. Noise protection with PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop XT ensures that the new route improves mobility without putting unnecessary strain on its surroundings.
