In St. Louis we have been dealing with a major highway construction project. Fortunately, only my social life and shopping habits have suffered. Right before Christmas, the first half of the job was completed and opened up to much fanfare and celebration. I think the pope even showed up to congratulate MoDOT in this feat. Of course within the week, I took The Fock-is and we had our inaugural dive down the new I-64.
As I drive down the road, it feels roomy and luxurious. The overpasses look good. A few freshly-planted trees dot the way. As I try to convince myself that this is good, something is holding me back. There is something not comfortable about the ride.
Then it hits me. Concrete.
Not literally. I am fine. The car is safe.
Lining both sides of the highway are monstrous concrete sound barriers. Suddenly I feel like a rat in a maze searching for my cheese. Dave Matthews "Ants Marching" begins to play in my head. I feel trapped. All the ambiance, all the character are gone. The few trees they planted within the sterile land look nice, but compared to all the trees that are now blocked out, it's a sad attempt. Not too mention the business that have been now blocked by these walls. I am sure they will suffer too.
Now it's time for the excuses: "It is the home owner's request for the sound barriers to be installed." These home owner's moved in to an existing highway. They knew the situation. I have experienced it, it's not that loud. It's white noise except for the occasional semi or ambulance. If you don't like it, don't move to that location. If I was a home owner, I would prefer to look out and see a distance of cars, trees, life, and goings-on rather than a 25 foot peach concrete wall on my property line. It's very oppressive. It is also very unsettling to hear noise and not detect the source. I am concerned for these people's mental well-being.
I was perusing the real estate market this weekend when I saw a house for sale in dog town. It is VERY close to the highway, but it's also part of the charm (I know, it was Greg's neighbor when he lived in dog town). I was sad to see that in the ad it mention sound barriers will be put up in the next year. Great, block out the traffic, but create an amplifier for all the neighborhood dogs.
I have written two letters to MoDOT, but I am sure they won't get read. I am not sure what to do. We can't have the stretch of 64 between 170 and Kingshighway turned into a soulless road that can be placed anywhere in America. Why do builders today make it their prime objective to remove an individuality and uniqueness from their ultimate result? We are St. Louis. We should show it off, not hide it.
I feel a real sense of urgency to stop this process, but I have no idea how to go about it. I have googled to see if any web sites have started up, but I have found none. I feel that I won't get the voice to be heard because I am just a "suburbanite" and it doesn't affect me. It does. I drive down the highway, I deserve to see St. Louis and St. Louis deserves to be seen. Again, I don't think these city people know what they are getting into. They may block some sound out, but they are only amplifying it on the other side.
4 comments to Concrete Jungle:
when i lived in kc i was right off the highway and it did not bother me a bit. to be honest it was as soothing as the ocean it was just a constant hmmmmm noise, i did not even have to use my fan when i lived there. as for the walls they are ugly they have them in nashville and birmingham when i moved down here it was the first time i have ever seen them or ever noticed them.... oh well i am torn between a wall and nature!!!! not really sure what i would choose i would want a wall if i had kids espcially if my kids were retarted and thought it would be ok to go play in the highway!!! however if my kids are that retarted maybe they should go play in the highway(joke people i would not let my kids play in the highway).
I have 2 comments.
1. I am a little bummed that they didn't make an HOV (car pool) lane. Wouldn't that benefit everyone? Encourage people to car pool, they get their own lane, and there are few cars to crowd the highway. We are so behind the times.
2. Have you seen that house on Lindbergh that is north of the highway? They actaully have a sound barrier wall surrounding about 1/3 of their house. The wall actually wraps around the front of their house. It is a sight because you can't believe they would actually do that to someone's property.
Tara
I have to hand it the managers of this project. Here is MoDOTS response...
The following is in response to your comment sent through MoDOT's The New I-64 web site.
The inclusion of sound walls is required under Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines. Whenever new highway construction will result in sound levels that exceed 66 decibels, the project must offer sound walls to property owners that meet a strict set of guidelines.
These sound walls are part of the mitigations that are required through the environmental impact studies that are completed, prior to projects being approved and funded by FHWA.
Each wall segment that is proposed, for areas that meet the sound levels and guidelines, is offered to the benefited property owners for a yes/no vote. Each property has one vote. If the majority of property owners in a segment vote yes, the wall is built. In the west half of the project, we had fewer than 10 NO votes in total for the entire west corridor.
Sound walls are not popular with motorists, as they do present a boring view. There will be some additional landscaping that is yet to be installed along the west half. However, the walls are very popular with adjacent home owners.
Cathie Farroll
I-64 Community Relations
I did respond asking for a list of the properties that were eligible to vote for the walls and I also asked if there is a follow-up survey on the satisifaction of the owners once it is set up.
Seriously, if it bothers you that much, you shouldn't have bought it. There are plenty of others houses.
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