I-94 Construction Project Will Bring Noise ... Relief?

Road construction projects, while a hassle, theoretically will result in an improved driving experience.

Some Oak Creek neighborhoods will see a positive impact from road construction, though it's a little off in the distance.

As part of the Interstate 94 north-south project, the state Department of Transportation is set to install noise barriers in three areas in Oak Creek, said Bill Mohr, major-projects manager for the DOT.

They are:

• West side of the freeway north of Ryan;

• East side of the freeway south of Drexel;

• West side of the freeway between College and Rawson.

In addition, earth berms—mounds of dirt that provide insulation and can help block out noise—were installed last summer in two spots on the south end of town, City Engineer Mike Simmons said.

Residents and management of the apartment complex, off 20th Street near Ryan Road, said the barriers will come as much-needed relief. They and Oak Creek officials pushed for the DOT to build them.

Trees provide a small buffer on the east side of the complex and largely shield the freeway from view, but it's not nearly enough to drown out the sound of hundreds of thousands of vehicles traveling by at 65 mph.

"It's incredibly noisy," property manager Steve Shimmons told the Oak Creek Plan Commission Tuesday.

It might be awhile yet before they are in place, as the DOT is scheduled to install them in 2019-2020 in conjunction with work being done south of Ryan Road.

Other construction work in Oak Creek is more immenent. Work on the new Drexel Interchange and the expansion of Drexel Avenue from the freeway to 27th Street will begin later this year.

Reconstruction of the Rawson Avenue Interchange will be done in 2013, while the DOT will tackle the Ryan Road Interchange in 2014.