Transportation ministry completes $7.3M design for Hwy. 404 noise barriers in East Gwillimbury

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 29, 2016
By Simon Martin

Preliminary design work has been completed for Hwy. 404 noise barriers scheduled to be installed in Sharon this summer.

And it’s not cheap.

The 2.67-kilometre barrier appears to be the lengthiest the ministry could construct while staying under the $100,000-per-affected-household threshold.

According to the noise study, the recommended barrier represents a cost of $99,408 per residence.

The total estimated cost of the project is $7.3 million.

According to an update from East Gwillimbury town staff, the Ministry of Transportation has completed 90 per cent of its detailed design.

A portion of the existing noise fence currently installed will be removed to accommodate a new noise barrier. The proposed design includes integrating the existing side yard fences of four properties on Colonel Wayling Boulevard backing on to the new noise barrier. The existing fences will be modified to abutt the proposed noise barrier.

The project will be tendered in the spring with construction going forward in the summer.

The province announced last year it planned to build a 2.67-kilometre noise barrier along the 404 extension, from just north of Green Lane to a point just north of Farr Avenue after residents voiced concerns about excessive noise from the highway extension.

The maximum the ministry will spend is $100,000 per residence affected in implementing noise mitigation measures, it has said.