Layers with a very high content of rubber have shown to be very effective on noise abatement
despite their reduced durability. On the contrary, layers with a rubberized asphalt binder have shown
to be durable, but their performance regarding noise abatement is not consensual yet. This paper aims
at assessing the effect of the use of layers with rubberized asphalt binder on noise abatement. For this
purpose seven road sections with different surface types, among which five gap graded and three with
rubberized asphalt have been selected. In these road sections the tyre-road noise generated by a heavy
truck and two light vehicles at three levels of speed were measured by means of pass-by tests. Surface
texture tests were also performed. The results focused on the noise level variation versus speed, the
average noise level for each speed level versus type of surface and the average noise level variation
with regards to a reference surface. Mixtures with rubberized asphalt did not show a significantly
better performance. In fact, the same performance may be achieved with other type of gap graded thin
mixtures. The results obtained might be better explained if other parameters than the rubberized
asphalt binder are taken into account. Further research on the effect of porosity and texture on noise
generation is being done. It is intended to perform absorption tests in all the surfaces analysed in order
to study this issue in depth and fully understand the effect of the rubber on noise generation
