State Announces Highway Noise Barrier Project In Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A busy Interstate highway in Southington will have new noise barriers installed by the state of Connecticut — but it is going to be a while before anything happens.

The state Department of Transportation this week announced that current, wooden noise barriers on Interstate 691 West at the interchange with Route 322 (West Main Street) will be replaced.

In addition, guiderails in that area — estimated at 2,250 feet long — will be updgraded as well, the DOT announced.

State officials said wood noise barriers — which block off existing neighborhoods from noisy highway traffic — are more conducive to decay, which is the case here.

As a result, newer, concrete "or other materials" will be utilized with these new barriers, the state said.

"The replacement noise barrier will provide noise abatement in conformation with the criteria in place when the existing noise barrier was installed," wrote the DOT.

While state officials announced the project this week, actually work is quite a ways away.

The DOT said the design phase of the project will be done in December 2025, with work beginning in the spring of 2026.

So it will be nearly two years before anyone sees progress at the site.

Anyone with questions and/or comments on the project can contact Michael Cherpak, principal engineer, at 860-594-3155 or via email at Michael.Cherpak@ct.gov. Reference state project no. 0131-0210.