I too have noticed a significant increase in highway noise. Barriers would make a big difference in the quality of life in this neighborhood for residents and businesses alike.

These should be called pollution barriers, as research shows they also block 50% of air pollution -- not just noise. They should be an absolute requirement for all highways in populated areas, as they are in the Netherlands.

ConnDOT wants to call them "sound barriers" so that they can give the public the sense that they are optional. It's classic Orwellian behavior.

Those who understand urban air know that the barriers are a matter of life (reduced air pollution) or death (large toxic dust particles raining down on surrounding neighborhoods).

I absolutely agree. This has created a huge problem along with the motorcyles.
Roland Lemar is the person to talk to about this as I understand it.

I want to comment quickly, and then do a little more research/talk to DOT about this before setting a course of action. As I live right on Eld Street, next to State Street, I know exactly of the location and concerns. First, yes, after numerous years of fighting with DOT, led by Alderman Smart, Senator Looney, myself, et. al, the new sound barrier was recently constructed on the east side of I-91/Trumbull Street. These barriers are very expensive and the State DOT did not wish to spend the $ neccessary for constuction, but thankfully the community lobbyng efforts paid off. All the science and engineering studies on this agree on one thing, there is virtually no noise increase as a result of construction of noise barriers on only one side of the highway. It appears that the construction of barriers on both sides of a highway is what actually leads to the greater increase in sound - but there are ways to mitigate against that as well. I was originally pushing for the true noise absorbing walls to be constructed on both sides from exit 2 all the way up to Cedar Hill, but the cost has been the limiting factor to date - I will continue to fight for construction, however, as while they do not eliminate all sound/pollution associated with the highway, they do eliminate a good deal of it and remarkably improve the quality of life for local residents. I will talk to a few people and come up with a future course of action moving forward and how we can continue to effectively mobilize to get these $ spent here. Feel free to contact me directly - roland.lemar@cga.ct.gov

The interstate highways are the responsibility of the Department of Transportation. This issue will remain open, however, it will be moved to the category "Other". This is to help us better manage the volume of posting on this website.

This issue was recategorized from Public Space, Streets and Drains to Other.

Roland, does DOT now recognize that the presence of barriers is a serious air pollution issue, not just a sound issue?

Highway departments have denied this for years, and are just coming to terms with the research that shows that this is much more of a life-or-death issue than previously thought.

Hi mark,

I'm looking through old CT DOT reports to try and find any statement from them in this regard...haven't found anything yet, but I will request a statement/finding from them. In my research, the most widely sourced and respected study on the topic was conducted in 2008/2009 and concluded that the construction of sound barriers did, in fact, have an additional positive impact of reduced air pollution in neighborhoods close to a heavily traversed roadways. I'm working on establishing new standards/legislation in this regard, so if anyone else has any good information, let me know as I'm currently doing research through NCSL and coming up a little dry.

We are trying to delineate issues that are current and need the city's attention to resolve. Any issues prior to 2013 are being closed. If your issue remains and needs to be addressed by the city, please either re-open or open as a new See Click Fix issue. Thanks.