Noise barriers are solid obstructions built between the highway and properties along the highway designed to reduce the noise level of vehicles. Barriers can be either beams or high vertical walls.
Noise walls along I-35W North
Traffic noise along I-35W North between Hwy 36 and Lexington Ave. exceeds the state's noise standards. A noise study concluded that adding noise walls at several locations along I-35W North would reduce noise for properties adjacent to this area by at least five decibels.
Where would the noise walls be built and what would they look like?
The proposed noise walls are 20-foot-tall barriers built with wood planks and concrete posts. The planks for the wall will be brown; the posts for the walls north of Co. Rd. J will be brown; and the posts on the walls south of Co. Rd. J will be tan.
When would the noise walls go up?
The noise walls will be built beginning in 2019 as part of the overall construction of the I-35W North project.
Tally for noise wall votes
*If greater than 50 percent of the total eligible points are no votes then the noise wall is removed from the project.
Final voting results as of April 2017
Wall NB1
East side of I-35W between Co. Rd. D and Co. Rd. C in Roseville
Total eligible points: 147
Yes Points: 78 (53%)
No Points: 69 (47%)
Decision: Wall will be built
Note:Noise Wall NB1 was originally proposed as 4,182 ft. long. Based on the results of the benefited receptor solicitation process, Noise Wall NB1 will be reduced to 757 ft. at the north end of the wall near Co. Rd. D. The new proposed length of Noise Wall NB1 is 3,425 feet. There were no benefited receptors that voted in favor of Noise Wall NB1 or did not provide a voting response that were affected by the shortening of the noise wall. The shortened version of Noise Wall NB1 is proposed for construction.
Wall NC1
East side of I-35W between the freight rail tracks and Co. Rd. D in New Brighton
Total eligible points: 414
Yes Points: 324 (79%)
No Points: 4 (1%)
Decision: Wall will be built
Wall SE1
West side of I-35W between 10th St. NW and Co. Rd. E2 in New Brighton
Total eligible points: 156
Yes Points: 107 (69%)
No Points: 0 (0%)
Decision: Wall will be built
Wall SI1
West side of I-35W between Co. Rd. I and Squire Ln. in Mounds View
Total eligible points: 420
Yes Points: 277 (66%)
No Points: 7 (2%)
Decision: Wall will be built
Wall SJ1
South side of Hwy 10 between Edgewood Dr. and Jackson Dr. in Mounds View
Total eligible points: 60
Yes Points: 48 (80%)
No Points: 0 (0%)
Decision: Wall will be built
Wall NK1
East side of I-35W between Lake Dr. and 95th Ave. N.E. in Blaine
Total eligible points: 648
Yes Points: 86 (13%)
No Points: 465 (72%)
Decision: Wall will not be built
Wall NL1
South side of I-35W between 95th Ave. N.E. and Lexington Ave. in Blaine
Total eligible points: 213
Yes Points: 99 (47%)
No Points: 9 (4%)
Decision: Wall will be built
Wall NN1
South side of I-35W between Sunset Ave. and Rice Lake Dr. in Lino Lakes
Total eligible points: 108
Yes Points: 105 (97%)
No Points: 0 (0%)
Decision: Wall will be built
More information about noise wall voting
Property owners and residents who will experience a noise level reduction of at least five decibels can vote for or against the noise wall that provides the noise reduction.
Who is eligible to vote on whether a noise barrier should be constructed?
MnDOT will send notices and noise wall ballots to people who are eligible to vote. Only the property owners or residents who experience a noise level reduction of at least five decibels from the proposed noise walls can vote on the wall.
How does voting work?
If 50 percent or more of all possible voting points from eligible voters are received after the first request for votes, the majority of votes (based upon the votes received) determines the outcome. If less than 50 percent of the possible voting points for a wall are received after the first request, a second ballot will be mailed to the eligible voters who did not respond.
If 25 percent or more of all possible points for a barrier are received after the second request for votes, then the outcome is determined by the majority of votes received. If less than 25 percent of total possible points for a noise barrier are received after the second request for votes, then the barrier will NOT be constructed. If there is a tie, where there are equal numbers of points for and against a noise wall, the noise wall WILL be constructed.
What happens if I didn't vote?
If you don’t vote, the voting points assigned to you do not count for or against the noise wall.
How are the votes counted?
MnDOT uses a weighted voting system. Points are determined by how much your property or unit is affected by the noise wall and whether or not you own the property or unit. If a noise wall is voted down, it will not be reconsidered.
