Date:  Monday, August 18, 2008

Contact: Kelly Stowe, WSDOT Communications, 360-480-3648

TACOMA – On Monday, Sept. 8, crews from Tri-State Construction, Inc. out of Bellevue will begin a three-month project constructing noise barriers along SR 16’s eastbound span of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

The noise barriers will help reduce the sound, which nearby residents say is similar to a zipper opening – but much louder.

This sound can be heard an average of 40,000 times a day, when cars travel over the expansion joints on both ends of the bridge. The noise has been one of very few complaints by nearby residents about the one-year-old span that opened to traffic July 16, 2007.

Engineers hope to zap the zipper sound with noise-absorbent panels placed on the sides of the bridge anchors. These panels will also be placed on four noise-barrier walls built on top of existing traffic barriers alongside the bridge. The noise walls are designed to mimic the geometric shape of the nearby anchorages.

Studies show that noise barriers can reduce noise levels by 10 to 15 decibels, cutting traffic noise in half.

Construction is scheduled to wrap up by the end of the year.

This project costs about $1 million to complete and is part of the $735 million price tag for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge - which is on pace to finish about $114 million under budget.

WSDOT awarded the $531,698 construction contract to Tri-State Construction, Inc., on July 28.

For more information on noise barriers, please visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/Air/TrafficNoise.htm.

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