The preliminary design sound wall evaluation is currently under development as part of the environmental clearance process, and the results will be published as part of the finalized EA document.
Once the impacts have been identified in the corridor, the detailed noise abatement recommendations are still pending, and a decision will be made during the final design portion of the project.
Sound walls are not designed or intended to provide safety improvements. Decisions regarding sound walls will be based upon the Federal Highway and PennDOT’s warranted, feasible, and reasonable process as outlined in PennDOT’s Noise Abatement Brochure.
Sound walls in a corridor are typically protected by a single face concrete barrier in front of them to keep people from hitting the noise wall. That by default becomes a safety measure with having a concrete barrier in front of the noise wall to keep traffic from hitting the wall or leaving the highway.