Region proposes adding noise walls to Franklin Boulevard near McQueen Shaver Boulevard

The region is proposing to spend about $2 million to install noise walls along a southern section of Franklin Boulevard to stop the loud rumble of trucks from impacting neighbouring homeowners and the enjoyment of their properties.

The work, according to a report coming to the region's planning and works committee meeting this week, will address a “miscalculation” in a decade old noise study that predicted traffic sounds coming from the link to the south boundary road wouldn't be as bad as they are.

Last fall, neighbours living near the newly-opened intersection pleaded with regional councillors to do something about the noise as trucks and other traffic began to use the new route to avoid downtown Galt.

After looking into the issue at the request of council, staff have now concluded “noise walls are recommended because predicted average backyard noise levels exceed 60 decibels for future traffic volumes predicted in 2031.”

Noise studies previously conducted by the developer in 2007, and for an environmental assessment of the south boundary road in 2011, concluded that noise walls were not required along Franklin Boulevard.

But staff now say that's because the 2007 noise assessment used projected traffic volumes that were significantly lower than the projected traffic volumes used in the 2011 Environmental Study Report.

The report also says, “in reassessing the 2011 noise study…staff identified that the actual distances from the outdoor living areas to the road were less than the distances used in the 2011 Environmental Study Report.

“Staff also identified that the 2031 average annual daily traffic volume was not correctly input into the noise model in the in the 2011 Environmental Study Report.”

The plea to mitigate the noise around homes on Franklin Boulevard came at the same time many homeowners whose properties back onto McQueen Shaver Boulevard, asked the same thing of council.

But since regional staff are undertaking a truck diversion study, at the request of the City of Cambridge, it won't be addressing their concerns immediately.

The heavy truck bypass study, which has been delayed almost two years due to the pandemic, will include updated traffic volume forecasts and noise assessments to determine if noise walls are required along McQueen Shaver Boulevard with a truck diversion in place, says the report.

Tree planting and landscaping along McQueen Shaver Boulevard originally planned for this year will also be deferred to 2023 to allow completion of the truck diversion noise assessment.

If approved later this month, staff will retain a consultant to complete the design of the noise walls along Franklin Boulevard using $250,000 in the region's transportation capital plan for the south boundary road, funded through regional development charges.

The project's $2 million build budget would then be added to the 2023 capital budget process.

The work would take place on the west side of Franklin Boulevard from Bloomington Road to Carpenter Road and on both sides of Franklin Boulevard from Carpenter Road to the southern city boundary limit.