SALEM, N.H. — A half-mile sound barrier going up at the Exit 1 northbound offramp will soon muffle highway traffic for dozens of households on and near MacGregor Avenue.
The target completion date for the $1.1 million wall is Nov. 14. Foundation work for the 184 prefabricated concrete poles began about two months ago.
Over the years, many in the neighborhood have grown accustomed to the constant drone of Interstate 93 traffic, said Mark Caesar, a state Department of Transportation project engineer.
A year ago, though, when crews cut down trees along the offramp, the DOT started to receive noise complaints, Caesar said.
Without trees as a barrier, truck and other traffic noise grew noticeable, especially at night, he said.
The barrier will have benefits in addition to noise protection, he said.
It will add a second line of defense, along with the existing chain-link fence, to discourage pets from wandering onto the road.
The barrier also will help cut down on construction noise as the project moves into its highway-widening phase.
The barriers are planned for other sections in the I-93 widening project. Sound walls stand between highways and houses elsewhere in the state.
To qualify for the protection, neighborhoods must meet density and proximity criteria, Caesar said. He said the sound barrier work at Exit 1 will represent a milestone.
It's part of the $24 million Exit 1 ramp bridges project. Three of those bridges are expected to be completed and open by Nov. 14, he said.
The overall I-93 project will widen the highway from two to four lanes in both directions along a 20-mile stretch between Salem and Manchester.
The latest cost estimate for the project is $750 million, and the work includes several park-and-ride facilities.
