TDOT denies Knoxville neighborhood's request for I-40 sound barrier

TDOT denies Knoxville neighborhood's request for I-40 sound barrier

October 9, 2007

By ANN KEIL
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Pond Gap residents complaining about interstate noise seem to have hit a brick wall.

The community, located right off I-40 in West Knoxville, asked the Tennessee Department of Transportation to put up a sound barrier, but their request has been denied.

"It sounds like a waterfall. See how loud it is here," said Pond Gap Association President David Williams. "I'm getting a reading of 84. It just never lets up."

At Pond Gap Elementary School, on the other side of I-40, the 6 News sound level meter also got a reading in the high 70's to low 80's.

And although that level meets the transportation department's requirements for a sound barrier, other issues are involved.

"That area is deemed unreasonable because the cost to build the barrier is too high for the amount of homes in the neighborhood," said TDOT spokesman Travis Brickey.

TDOT will not look into doing another sound test in Pond Gap unless this section of I-40 is widened, which means no sound barrier for the area for now.  

The last traffic noise study was conducted in 1999.

TDOT did a statewide study to identify areas outside of current highway construction that needed sound walls. The only area meeting the criteria is the Lake City portion of I-75.