Shanghai officials tout fancy asphalt

In an effort to cut down noise pollution, Shanghai officials are turning to what they know best, the Future. On the Nanpu and Lupu Bridges, a new form of state-of-the-art asphalt will be used in hopes of eliminating unendurable decibal levels in the city’s noisiest areas. In some areas of the city, nighttime decibal levels have already reached over 100 (around the same noise level as a chainsaw); scientists claim that anything over 60 is dangerous to hearing.

Sang Guoping, an official with the Shanghai Engineering Administrative Bureau explains, “Hopefully, our material will have the same effect as being lined with tall trees on the elevated and ground roads." The price of using this new asphalt: 1.8 bilion yuan over the next three years. Tree prices must really be getting exorbitant!

With a recent ban on honking, Shanghai is poised to become what we could only describe as creepily quiet. We at Shanghaiist are getting nervous that the hustle and bustle that makes China’s largest city so exciting, will be replaced by the noiseless masses shuffling along in spooky silence or maybe not. Opinions?

Image from Two Dragons.