Sound barriers are being erected along a portion of the Capitol Beltway that rings a section of McLean after more than two decades. The sound barriers were originally intended to be put into place when the beltway was widened 25 years ago but the neighborhood rejected the plan until a few years ago.
“When the beltway was originally widened the people around the beltway didn’t want a sound wall. About five years ago that changed because traffic flow had changed. They decided they wanted it now,” said Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) spokesman Ryan Hall.
According to Hall, public hearings on the matter held 25 years ago determined that the homeowners didn’t want the trees torn down. “It was aesthetics,” said Hall.
“I don’t really hear the traffic at my house, but we aren’t right next to it. I’m sure the people who are will welcome it,” Jennifer Cowlin said of the sound walls in her neighborhood.
The sound walls being built are only on the inner loop section because those neighborhoods were pre-established when the highway was widened. “Homes built since the widening will not get the barrier because they weren’t originally part of it,” said Hall.
The sound wall is being constructed on an existing VDOT right of way and is scheduled to be completed on May 15, 2004. The roughly 2000 feet of wall costs a total of $1.4 million to build.
Construction of the sound barriers, just before the Georgetown Pike exit, is clearly visible from the beltway. Erecting the walls is done in stages with lateral supports being installed first and the walls being added later.