Quick facts
- Four sound walls will be constructed in specific locations along OR 217. View the interactive map to see the locations and photo renderings of the sound walls.
- Sound walls are barriers constructed between the highway and neighboring properties to maximize noise reduction.
- Construction of each sound wall was determined by a majority vote of benefitted residents and property owners in fall 2019.
Sound wall voting results
All benefitted residents for sound walls B and C were tenants residing at one multi-unit complex per sound wall. Per the Oregon Department of Transportation Noise Manual, all eligible tenant votes at each multi-unit complex are tallied to equal one collective vote. The property owner also gets one vote. Because of this, the voting results for these two sound walls were determined by a total of two possible votes each.
Background
ODOT’s OR 217 Auxiliary Lanes Project will improve safety and help prevent bottlenecks on a four-mile stretch of OR 217 between Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and OR 99W. Learn more about the overall project on the project mainpage:
www.hwy217.org.
As part of the project, acoustic engineers conducted a noise study to determine existing noise levels along OR 217 and what the noise levels will be after construction is complete. The results of the noise study showed that existing noise levels exceed the acceptable range in some locations, and that there will be a small increase in noise levels upon project completion.
On this project, sound
walls were found to provide adequate benefits, based on ODOT and Federal
Highway Administration standards, in four areas. Property owners in
these areas were given the opportunity
to vote on whether or not to have sound walls constructed. More than half of
the votes received, a majority, were required to be in favor of each sound wall
in order to be built.
About sound walls
The height and length of sound walls is determined by modeling how effective different sizes would be at reducing sound levels. The sound walls along OR 217 could be 10-23 feet tall and multiple blocks in length. Sound walls are constructed between the highway and neighboring properties to maximize noise reduction. The walls are typically made of either concrete post and panel or concrete masonry block. Final type selection will be made later in the project.
Interactive map
Click the image below to view an interactive map that shows the location of each proposed sound wall as well as photo renderings with and without the proposed sound walls from specific locations.
The height of the proposed sound wall in each photo rendering is specific to that particular location.
Map instructions:
- Click and drag to explore the map.
- Click on
(camera icons) to see views with and without the sound wall renderings.
- Click on the photo to enlarge it.
- Click on the arrow in the upper left corner to return to map.
- Click the arrow on the left side of the screen to return to the previous view.