The first encounter at the construction site went wrong, but that does not mean there is a bad neighborhood or that things will just continue like this. First, I let people scream until the end. No one can manage that for longer than 5 minutes. Then there is a pause, and I let that have some effect as well. Then I offer something, a place to sit, something to drink, whatever is available. As long as someone is so emotional, there is no need to speak factually anyway. Only when some calm has settled in do I address the matter. Something like this: I believe we want the same thing – a good noise protection. And we also don’t want to pay for any contribution to it. Can we continue from this point?
The wonderful thing about choleric people is that they scream out all their anger at once and thus get rid of it. They become accessible again and are rarely really unpleasant people.
Sounds like you handled the situation well. With a bit of skill, it will work out.