Rødovre resident fears more noise from M3 expansion

A Rødovre resident fears that expanding the Motorring 3 motorway will bring more traffic and noise, despite plans to lay noise-reducing asphalt, DR reported.

Lonny Frandsen lives near the 17-kilometre motorway, which runs west of Copenhagen. The infrastructure plan for 2035, agreed by the parties behind the traffic deal, includes noise-reducing asphalt on the route. Calculations by the Danish Road Directorate say it could lower noise levels by 3 to 4 decibels.

Frandsen remains concerned that the asphalt will only reduce noise for a few years before wear makes it louder again. She also fears the planned expansion will bring more cars past her home.

“When I bought my house 23 years ago, only 65,000 cars drove on the M3 each day. Now it is 145,000,” she said.

The Road Directorate says the motorway carries more than 145,000 vehicles a day and has no room to expand along its sides. The widening will therefore use the emergency lane, said department head Karsten Kirk Larsen.

Work is due to begin in 2027 and is expected to finish in 2030. The 17-kilometre route runs from Jægersborg in the north to Brøndby in the south.