State highway construction; means of noise abatement.

(1) The department shall make use of noise-control methods as part of highway construction projects involving new location or capacity expansion, with particular emphasis on those highways located in or near urban-residential developments which abut such highway rights-of-way.

(2) All highway projects by the department, regardless of funding source, shall be developed in conformity with federal standards for noise abatement as contained in 23 C.F.R. 772 as such regulations existed on July 13, 2011. The department shall, at a minimum, comply with federal requirements in the following areas:

(a) Analysis of traffic noise impacts and abatement measures;

(b) Noise abatement;

(c) Information for local officials;

(d) Traffic noise prediction; and

(e) Construction noise.

(3) The department shall, when feasible, expend the maximum amount of federal funds provided for new highway construction for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section.