The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has announced its program to repair and replace existing sound walls along the Dulles Toll Road and to build new walls where necessary in accordance with federal noise standards.

When the Airports Authority assumed responsibility for the operation and improvement of the Dulles Toll Road, it committed to assessing the current sound walls and developing a policy for repair, replacement and the construction of new walls. The new Airports Authority policy includes a one-time provision for evaluating those areas that did not qualify for noise walls under the Virginia guidelines.

The evaluation process began in 2010 and included extensive noise monitoring analysis along the Dulles Toll Road and public meetings with residents in the affected communities. A policy was modified in 2012 to conform to changes in the federal noise regulations and in Virginia policy and guidelines, resulting in a repair, replacement and new construction plan now underway.

Repair work began this year on approximately 4.2 miles of existing walls at a cost of $2.4 million. Replacement and construction of new walls will begin in 2013.

Two developments were identified for replacement walls, Wolftrap Meadows and Bluffs of Wolf Trap, at a cost of $11.4 million.  That work will be done in 2013-2014.

Five areas without walls were identified and found eligible for sound walls. They are: Worldgate Condominiums; McLean Hamlet; Odricks Corner; Dulles Greene Apartments; Courtyard by Marriott and Summerfield Suites. The next step in the new noise wall process is to seek concurrence from adjacent property owners who have the option of requesting construction of the new walls.

The Airports Authority will initiate design for the walls once concurrence has been received from the property owners. The estimated cost of new walls is $13 million. Construction is expected to begin in 2013.

Visit this link to view the Dulles Toll Road noise policy: http://www.mwaa.com/file/DTR_Noise_Policy.pdf

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