Province should pay for sound barriers for noisy Henday, councillors say

Councillors say the province is being unfair in withholding relief for residents who live near the noisy Anthony Henday.

Its loud. The Henday is loud, and everybody knows it, Coun. Mike Nickel said.

A city report into the issue suggested building a sound-proof wall along the road however, the ring road falls under provincial jurisdiction.

The province requires an average decibel level of 65 to be measured over a 24-hour period in order for funding to be approved.

City staff said noise levels don't reach that level on average, but spike much higher during rush hour.

Just to wash your hands of it because youre using a 24-hour rolling average, thats just not fair, Coun. Mike Nickel said.

Coun. Michael Oshry said his office receives many calls from people who say traffic noise near the ring road is unbearable, but the city cannot afford to put up sound barriers.

The last cost estimate for barriers hes seen is $1.5 million per kilometre, as of 2009. He said the province should have to pay, not the city.

We're trying to get the province to look at the data ... by looking at it during peak times or during daylight times potentially to see really how loud it is, he said.

He added, at the end of the day, it boils down to a quality of life issue.

I do understand that the homeowners in those areas have to take some responsibility for the fact that they did build or buy a house right by the ring road [but] hopefully there's something that we can do.

Audra Jones, Director of Sustainable Transportation, said the citys policy is identical to that of the province.

She warned the city could change itspolicy, but it would mean more roads would qualify for barriers which could drive up costs.

Nickel said the city should lead by example.

We have to change it, he said. I think the policy needs to be a little bit more flexible.