Although the progress of the Ohio Turnpike Sound Wall Project has been delayed, the construction is still on target, expected to be completed later this year.
City Engineer Mark Schmitzer said that he received notification last year that indicated that the bidding process for the project, which was originally scheduled to take place in June of last year, will be pushed to late summer/early fall, due to slope issues on the west bend. For that reason, added plan designs needed to be made and those details incorporated into the final plan, adding time to the process.
The noise wall project along the Ohio Turnpike was approved in 2015. Mayor Bob Stefanik and affected property owners recently received notification from Mark Alan Carpenter, P.E., District Environmental Coordinator at ODOT’s District 12, stating “ODOT, in conjunction with the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, is concerned about the potential noise impacts of Interstate 80, the Ohio Turnpike, in densely developed residential areas. As a result, ODOT completed a noise analysis at five locations along Interstate 80. Traffic noise impacts were identified at this location and a noise barrier has been determined to be feasible and reasonable as defined by ODOT’s Highway Traffic Noise Analysis Manual.” The missive indicated that 67 of 94 eligible votes, 71%, were received, which far exceeded the 50% minimum requirement. Those votes indicated that they supported the noise wall to be constructed. Of those returning vote, the majority selected a light gray ashlar stone textured concrete barrier to be erected. The letter also indicated that “trees in the highway right of way may need to be removed to construct the noise wall.”
The Ohio Turnpike and ODOT began this yearly program in 2015. It was developed to minimize the adverse impact that the Turnpike has had on communities. They earmarked $5 million annually, with a $1 million cap on each project. North Royalton was chosen, as well as Strongsville, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township to receive full funding of their noise walls. Engineering consultants LJB, Incorporated were contracted for the project by ODOT, who subcontracted DLZ to perform surveying, soil boring, noise readings and other environmental studies.
The application to the Ohio Turnpike and ODOT for the noise mitigation walls target and area of about 3.5 miles, which run east of the interchange of I-71 and the Ohio Turnpike. That was the area reviewed in a Noise Mitigation Study, performed by TranSystems for the Ohio Turnpike in 2008. In the study, it was noted that “increased traffic on the Ohio Turnpike has added to increased noise levels and residential complaints have increased since the addition of the third lane in this area. This area of the Ohio Turnpike is along a down-grade and braking is evident as traffic utilizes their brakes (especially trucks) to slow themselves down. In addition, the “thumping” sound of traffic crossing the bridge decks at York Road and Bennett Road adds to the increased sound pollution to the dismay of the adjacent residents.” The noise walls would serve to reduce and/or eliminate the traffic noises from this portion of the Turnpike.
According to Schmitzer, the proposed cost of the project is about $999,500, to install the sound walls. The walls are expected to be approximately 12-feet tall. “The visible height along the Turnpike will 12 feet, but since they will be installed near a slope and the Turnpike is higher than the slope, the walls are about 25-feet tall,” said Schmitzer.
ODOT has chosen Great Lakes Construction to complete the project. The start date has not yet been determined, but it is expected to be completed by October 31, 2017.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer