Front page article of today's Demo.Gazette dated December 24th: Seems Mayor Hayes, along with fellow neighbor Cliff Hoofman, a member of the Arkansas Highway Commission, find the I-40 traffic running along and below their homes on Cherry Hill Drive just a bit too noisy! It would appear that the extra lane in each direction, coupled with an increased road surface elevation of 5 feet, have brought on such a road noise level that neighbors have requested relief. Some longtime residents want to preserve the neighborhood but don't know if they or their property values will be able to take the racket!
The state Highway Department has retained an engineering firm out of Nashville, TN, Bowlby & Assocs. to study highway noise matters as needed. The company specializes in assessing traffic noise, and it's report on I-40 could be forwarded to the highway department soon. Bowlby may recommend noise barriers such as concrete walls be installed along the expressway bordering the affected homes that can cost $1 million or more per mile!
So an extra lane in each direction, coupled with an elevated road surface, have caused traffic noise concerns over on Cherry Hill Drive. Well we've got one better than that over here concerning Hwy. 67/167 improvements!
In addition to an extra two lanes of traffic we have an elevation factor, too! And it's not a measly 5 feet but more like 30 feet! Right, I'm talking about the 5-Mile Creek elevated turn-around between McCain Blvd. and Wildwood Ave.. Seems some of our neighbors have noticed this increased traffic noise to the point that it is negatively affecting their quality of life! And this without the highway project being completed, which once done will increase it's vehicle volume and speeds producing even more noise!
Measuring the effect traffic noise has on a surrounding community dates to the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act. The act requires state transportation agencies to assess the noise impact and potential mitigation whenever they widen roads or build new ones using federal money. Question needed to be asked: Is there federal money involved in the Hwy. 67/167 improvements currently underway? If yes, does the association need to take a position on the resulting increase of traffic noise and ask for relief from the state Highway Department? Do we have fellow neighbors on Oak Tree Circle, McKee Circle, eastern Valley Brook and Dawson that have maximum exposure to the Hwy 67/167 improvements and would want to seek relief? Perhaps we can begin to talk about this quality of life noise issue affecting our neighborhood at the up-coming January association meeting. If so, we need to hear from you, now!
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What about the proposed plans for the corporate handout in Dark Forest? Aren't they planning on creating a frontage road that hugs even tighter to the lower North Hills neighborhoods? I'm guessing that if the Mayor lived near lower North Hills, we wouldn't be talking about a Dark Forest shopping center at all.
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