Three segments of Houston’s third outer loop—the Grand Parkway—are expected to open late this year, bringing improved mobility to parts of Harris and Montgomery counties. However the new roadway runs through several residential areas, creating the need for noise walls in communities such as Fairfield along Segment F-1.

Various federal guidelines determine when noise mitigation is necessary along a roadway. There are several types of noise mitigation, such as sound walls, dense vegetation, earth berm and special concrete—such as longitudinal tining—that can be implemented in an area.

Noise walls were deemed necessary by TxDOT for a portion of Segment F-1 from Cypresswood Drive to Cumberland Ridge Drive.

“Work has already begun in most locations in segments F-1, F-2 and G,” said Linda Merritt, public information officer for Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders, which is constructing the toll road.

The need for noise mitigation in the area surrounding a new highway is typically determined by a modeling system that takes into account forecasted traffic counts that generate a noise profile relative to homes.

“Just because there are noise walls doesn’t mean that the noise will go away, and just because traffic is heard doesn’t mean you need a sound barrier,” said David Gornet, executive director of the Grand Parkway Association. “The noise just has to be above a certain level in the area in order to receive a sound barrier.”

The modeling system helps predict what the average noise level would be for a given amount of traffic. If the noise level generated by the toll road is higher than the threshold, noise mitigation will be considered. No other subdivisions along Segment F-1 will require noise mitigation, Gornet said.