Detroit Free Press Matt Helms Column: Macomb Residents Along I-94 to Get Long-Awaited Sound Barriers

By Matt Helms, Detroit Free Press

Apr. 17–Folks who’ve lived with freeway noise from I-94 in Macomb County soon will be getting help to quiet the racket.

A groundbreaking ceremony next week will kick off the building of two sound walls along eastbound I-94 in St. Clair Shores, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

This year, workers will first build a brick wall along eastbound I-94 between Martin and 12 Mile roads. Once that work is finished, a second wall will be built between 10 Mile and Frazho roads, MDOT said.

Two years ago MDOT built sound walls along eastbound I-94 between Stephens and 10 Mile roads.

“This is something the community has been asking for 25-30 years,” said MDOT spokeswoman Brenda Peek. “The houses are very, very close to the freeway.”

The total cost of the project is $4.3 million. The work is expected to last through late August.

MDOT said there will be minimal impact on traffic, with no lanes closed during the work. The only closures will be temporary, short shutdowns of the ramp from eastbound I-94 to 12 Mile while the wall between Martin and 12 Mile is built. Speed limits on eastbound I-94 won’t be reduced, Peek said.

The ceremony is set for 10-10:30 a.m. Monday at 9707 Frazho, the site of a former MDOT field office. MDOT staff and state Transportation Commission Chairman Ted Wahby will be on hand, as will members of the local community.

Contact MATT HELMS at driving@freepress.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Detroit Free Press

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