Tennessee Code Title 54. Highways, Bridges and Ferries § 54-1-137

(1) A tree zone has been removed, cut, or cleared behind the residential properties for purposes unrelated to construction of a state highway or physical alteration of an existing state highway;  and

(2) There is no existing shielding or noise barrier.

(1) “Noise barrier” means a physical obstruction that is constructed between a state highway and residential properties that lowers the highway traffic noise level, including stand-alone noise walls, noise berms, whether earth or other material, or a combination of such berm and wall systems;

(2) “Shielding” means a man-made or natural structure or barrier that provides an auditory barrier between residential properties and a state highway, including the top of a cut or an intervening hill;  and

(3) “Tree zone” means a region of woods and undergrowth or several rows of trees that are sufficiently dense to completely or substantially block the view along the sound propagation path of a state highway.