VDOT To Unveil Sound Wall Plans At Wednesday Meeting

The Virginia Department of Transportation is inviting the public to a meeting tonight to learn more about the agency's plans for sound walls on the Dulles Connector Road (Route 267), which will stretch for three miles in both directions from Route 123 (Dolley Madison Boulevard) to I-66.

Between 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday at Lemon Road Elementary School (7230 Idylwood Road, Falls Church) VDOT staff will be available to answer questions as residents view displays and learn more about the $35 million project.

The sound walls will be constructed to help muffle noise from the new Metro Silver line, which will run from downtown Washington, D.C. to Dulles Airport. The design calls for 10-foot sound walls along most of the connector, said Jim Phelps, chair of the Transportation Committee of the McLean Citizens Association.

In the last session of the General Assembly, Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston) and Del. Jim Scott (D-Pimmit Hills) got an amendment to the budget passed that required sound walls to be built along the Dulles Connector, Phelps said.

A VDOT spokesman said that a sound wall was built recently to shield residents of the townhouses in Hallcrest. The Silver Line (and I-66) go along the back of the development.

There are some existing wooden sound walls in the area that range in height from 8 feet to 15 feet, the VDOT spokesman said.

VDOT plans to start construction on the walls in early 2013. The Silver Line is scheduled to open in late 2013.

Give written comments at the meeting or submit them by Dec. 27 to Hamid Misaghain, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, Va. 22030. Telephone 703-259-1795 or 800-367-7623. You can also email comments to meeting_comments@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference “Sound Walls Comment” in the subject line.