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Rubber-core Sound Wall Cuts The Noise

Minimal equipment and manpower needed for installation
along I-675 in the Buckeye State

When it comes to highway construction projects, chances are good that the scene will include a lot of heavy-duty equipment and an elevated level of noise. This was quite the contrary when the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently called for the installation of a new sound wall along I-675 near Centerville, Ohio. In its efforts to reduce the highway vehicle noise from surrounding residential areas, ODOT was able to complete the sound wall installation quickly and with minimal construction equipment intervention .

Rubber soul
The project required that a product be used which featured recycled rubber within the panels of the wall. Lake Erie Construction was selected by ODOT to work on the project from the bidding process all the way through final installation. Knowing the parameters of the job, the company consulted with distributors in the area and manufacturers in the highway market to determine the most viable and reliable sound wall system.

The sound wall, manufactured by Carsonite International is constructed from fiber reinforced composite and filled with a ground, recycled rubber core, thus making the end product lightweight. Different from other sound walls made of concrete or wood, it can be deployed without a lot of heavy construction equipment. The simple post and foundation modular design features 6-in. high x 10-ft wide x 2-in. deep planks which can be stacked on top of each other to attain the desired height.

"Knowing the Carsonite name and quality, we learned about their unique sound barrier system using recycled rubber and made the decision to use the product for the Ohio project," explained Mark Winkler, superintendent, Lake Erie Construction.

1,000-ft. puzzle
For the ODOT project, approximately 1,000 ft. of sound wall was delivered in preassembled panels on a A-frame. Unloaded in a pre-determined storage area, all the panels were numbered and sequenced to make the installation easier and more precise.

"We were able to set up the 1,000 ft. of panels using only three individuals from our work crew and one small crane," added Winkler. "It was definitely less worrisome to lift up such lightweight panels and in the end, we saved both on manpower and time."

The lightweight feature of the sound wall also played a big role in its deployment on a bridge along I-675. "We had the option of putting a wood sound wall on the bridge, but we wanted a lighter material and a more uniform appearance to the project," said Todd Schafer project engineer, District 7, ODOT.

Selection process
ODOT was not the only group who had a say in the selection of the sound wall product. The state organization worked closely with local public officials and the residents in the area to include their opinions and requests in the outcome of the project. In fact, as Elvin Pinckney, environmental supervisor, Office of Environmental Services, ODOT, explained, "We would like to see more action in the way of governing land use so there will be less need for state involvement and more responsibility on the developer."

For the I-675 project, aesthetics played a prominent role in the decision of which sound wall to use. ODOT and the participating groups wanted to match the sound walls that were already in the area and they wanted a pleasant looking color scheme and texture on both sides of the wall.

"We liked the ability of the sound barrier system to change colors within the same panel," added Pinckney.

Final exam
The sound wall used in the ODOT project included 53,790 lbs. of recycled tires. After completion, ODOT commissioned a professor from Ohio University to conduct sound test on the wall. The sound study concluded that residents living in the area adjacent to the sound wall received a reasonable benefit from the project considering the length of the barrier and the terrain in the area near the overpass.

Reprinted with permission from Roads & Bridges

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