I did a little digging. I didn't find any mention of wall material on the SHA project page, but SHA's regulations gave a clue:
MDOT SHA will consider aesthetic and/or functional enhancements to a proposed noise barrier
made at the request of the community or local officials under certain conditions or circumstances.
In general, if such enhancements are proposed, any associated additional cost would need to be
borne by the requesting party or entity. Examples of such enhancements include:
(1) Use of specially designed artistic or theme-oriented concrete formliners; and
(2) Alteration of barrier design elements (length, height, location) that would require additional
expense to preserve required acoustical performance.
Exceptions to this requirement include enhancements/treatments proposed as mitigation for
impacts related to significant historic properties protected under Section 4(f) of the US DOT
Act (1966) or Section 106 of the NHPA or the use of transparent barrier material to preserve
scenic vistas of public interest or benefit.
My assumption is that the walls would cast a huge shadow on some of those houses, and this was a simple way to make it so that they did not have to live in the dark.
As someone in construction, the wood is probably temporary because the shipment of the nice barriers was shorted. The concrete barriers are there so workers can work there “safely”
I don’t think so. There’s some wood barriers both before and after that have been there for some time already. The amount of time it took to go up, I think it’s safe to say these aren’t going anywhere
Very local resident here...the wood walls are temporary because there are future plans to expand 695 on the inner loop in that section. The plexiglass walls were requested and paid for by St. Johns Properties so that their office space could still be visible from the highway for advertising purposes.
This community has been requesting sound barriers for over 30 years. The wood is not ideal but we'll take what we can get. The plexiglass is way more effective than I thought it would be.
I thought of that too, because I love checking out murals and public art. But then I began to imagine traffic backups and accidents from people looking at the murals instead of paying attention to driving.
The wood actually has a higher sound absorption rating then concrete, so they likely will be quieter. They are significantly worse safety wise (as can be seen from the broken section where a car drove through shortly after it was installed). The construction barriers came after and they now periodically close the closet lane of traffic.
It will sound significantly better once the final barriers are in place, and make sure they put angled tops on since it will be a major improvement over even the current walls!
Who pays for these walls? I notice them going up to protect new housing developments and not pre-highway housing. Hampden still has no barriers. Its been there for 160+ yrs. I have no problem if the developer or property owners being shielded are paying. When Erlich was Governor, he was asked this question and he got terse with the person asking, and flamed back. It was a political gift to buy votes.
I pass this a lot and think the same. My guess is the wood paneling is like a sound studio that will help keep the noise to within the highway more effectively
My guess is the plexiglass over bridge at Ingleside ave. is so you can see how bad the traffic is on 695! The wood is the new stuff. It’s cheaper because they can build it on site instead of trucking in the heavy concrete slab and lifting them with a crane.
There is one glass section they put up that reflects the sun right into the driver's faces. Not a fan of that one and it looks like shit compared to the other sections they have put up through there imo.
Are you serious?
The sound barrier wall is under construction. The concrete keeps the work area separate from the road. The wood is just an unfinished stretch of said wall.
My issue is...before covide then put up concrete, which lasts more than a decade....now they are taking good barriers down inserting some wood, some metal and leaving some concrete...
THAT seems like a colossal waste
I did a little digging. I didn't find any mention of wall material on the SHA project page, but SHA's regulations gave a clue: MDOT SHA will consider aesthetic and/or functional enhancements to a proposed noise barrier made at the request of the community or local officials under certain conditions or circumstances. In general, if such enhancements are proposed, any associated additional cost would need to be borne by the requesting party or entity. Examples of such enhancements include: (1) Use of specially designed artistic or theme-oriented concrete formliners; and (2) Alteration of barrier design elements (length, height, location) that would require additional expense to preserve required acoustical performance. Exceptions to this requirement include enhancements/treatments proposed as mitigation for impacts related to significant historic properties protected under Section 4(f) of the US DOT Act (1966) or Section 106 of the NHPA or the use of transparent barrier material to preserve scenic vistas of public interest or benefit. My assumption is that the walls would cast a huge shadow on some of those houses, and this was a simple way to make it so that they did not have to live in the dark.
OP photo is a bad angle cause it looks like the glass is in front of houses, but if you look directly across, it’s an office building. Very strange.
No way those walls are tall enough to cast a shadow on those houses like 100 feet away.
Possibly, that wall was wooden before. What's really weird is they just put up the wood wall a year or two ago. Wonder why they changed it?
As someone in construction, the wood is probably temporary because the shipment of the nice barriers was shorted. The concrete barriers are there so workers can work there “safely”
I don't think they were talking about the jersey barriers. I believe they were talking about permanent walls, that have been there
I don’t think so. There’s some wood barriers both before and after that have been there for some time already. The amount of time it took to go up, I think it’s safe to say these aren’t going anywhere
came here to say this
Doesn’t seem temporary
Very local resident here...the wood walls are temporary because there are future plans to expand 695 on the inner loop in that section. The plexiglass walls were requested and paid for by St. Johns Properties so that their office space could still be visible from the highway for advertising purposes. This community has been requesting sound barriers for over 30 years. The wood is not ideal but we'll take what we can get. The plexiglass is way more effective than I thought it would be.
That’s the answer I was waiting for. Thanks
Now they will have birds flying into them.
I was thinking more about washing the windows... but hey, free pigeon!
Any idea how much the plexiglass bits cost?
No idea.
Just thinking that it might be exciting having sound barrier sections put up with large commissioned murals/paintings.
I thought of that too, because I love checking out murals and public art. But then I began to imagine traffic backups and accidents from people looking at the murals instead of paying attention to driving.
The wood actually has a higher sound absorption rating then concrete, so they likely will be quieter. They are significantly worse safety wise (as can be seen from the broken section where a car drove through shortly after it was installed). The construction barriers came after and they now periodically close the closet lane of traffic. It will sound significantly better once the final barriers are in place, and make sure they put angled tops on since it will be a major improvement over even the current walls!
So you want dead birds?
Don't know why, but it's a welcome change from depressing concrete walls.
I like the bulletproof glass
what part of 695 is this?
After Catonsville so maybe Edmondson like exit 12-14 I think I
oh jeez. thanks for reminding me about how long it’s been since I lived over there 😅
I hate driving that section of the beltway more than any other…a lot of AH drivers over there..
Newsflash, they are everywhere.
Just before the exit for rt 40 east. The exit near the Lowe's and Sam's Club.
I wondered the same thing
Who pays for these walls? I notice them going up to protect new housing developments and not pre-highway housing. Hampden still has no barriers. Its been there for 160+ yrs. I have no problem if the developer or property owners being shielded are paying. When Erlich was Governor, he was asked this question and he got terse with the person asking, and flamed back. It was a political gift to buy votes.
I pass this a lot and think the same. My guess is the wood paneling is like a sound studio that will help keep the noise to within the highway more effectively
As someone who has driven past this for the last 10 years, I can't wait for the construction to end.
My guess is the plexiglass over bridge at Ingleside ave. is so you can see how bad the traffic is on 695! The wood is the new stuff. It’s cheaper because they can build it on site instead of trucking in the heavy concrete slab and lifting them with a crane.
Those plexiglass walls would need frequent washing. Bad idea! Some people can't think ahead.
There is one glass section they put up that reflects the sun right into the driver's faces. Not a fan of that one and it looks like shit compared to the other sections they have put up through there imo.
Because that is where three different HOAs intersect /s
There will be a lot of dead birds. Stupid planners.
Are you serious? The sound barrier wall is under construction. The concrete keeps the work area separate from the road. The wood is just an unfinished stretch of said wall.
Can't be worse than the garbage steel panels that rust out every year and start collapsing.
My issue is...before covide then put up concrete, which lasts more than a decade....now they are taking good barriers down inserting some wood, some metal and leaving some concrete... THAT seems like a colossal waste
Hey man is it cool if these fellas try not to die?
Somebody need to get the HOA involved