Senator previously secured $10M for sound walls to be built along I-75 in Troy
LANSING, Mich. — Residents seeking relief from noisy highways would have easier access to sound barrier funding through the Michigan Department of Transportation under legislation introduced by state Sen. Michael Webber.
Webber was able to secure a $10 million appropriation in the state’s 2024 fiscal year budget for two sections of sound walls to be built along I-75 in Troy after residents raised concerns about increased noise pollution following upgrades to the interstate that were completed in 2015.
“The current process of residents appealing to their state legislator to advocate for sound wall funding within the annual state budget isn’t practical or sustainable — a formal funding model is needed,” said Webber, R-Rochester Hills. “It was my understanding from MDOT, that federal dollars are historically used to build sound walls and that this project would not have qualified for federal funding because the original I-75 corridor project was already completed. My bill would fix this situation in the future.”
Webber said his legislation, Senate Bill 643, is modeled off a Minnesota law as it is the only other state with a mechanism set up to fund sound wall construction from the state level and not just from federal dollars. He said his legislation would create a fund within the Department of Treasury to be administered by MDOT in order to support qualifying noise abatement projects where sound walls currently are not located.
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