The Utah Department of Transportation has received your request and we will be looking into the issue. Thank you for taking the time to let us know.

Thank you for taking time to contact UDOT with your concern about the vehicle noise and heavy truck traffic on 9000 South in between Mountain View Corridor and 4800 South. The heavy truck traffic diversion down to Old Bingham Highway that you saw a few years back was more than likely due to interchange construction at the 9000 South/ Mountain View Corridor intersection which would temporarily block truck access to Mountain View Corridor. Now that the access to Mountain View Corridor has been reestablished via 9000 South it makes sense that trucks have started to utilize this route again. Aside from extremely heavy loads, wide loads, and construction diversions, UDOT isn't able to dictate where commercial vehicles are allowed to drive on highways that we own. We try to assess and route these large trucks at our Ports of Entry when they enter the State of Utah, but once they are within our borders it becomes logistically difficult to keep tabs on them and where they choose to drive. Our roadways are designed for what is called a WB-67 vehicle which is a semi-truck with a trailer. We design the roadways geometrically and also structurally for this kind of vehicle so that the roadway can stand up to the load that it creates when it is driving on it. UDOT's SR-209 (aka 9000 South) is one of our roads that we designed so that large trucks can utilize it for commerce.

Regarding the request for noise walls please see the attached letter from our Environmental Division here at UDOT. I have been in contact with them and they deal with noise wall studies and installations.

Thank you again for contacting UDOT with your suggestions and concerns. Please reach out to us again if you have any other ideas or comments about the roadways that we all share.

Thank you for taking time to contact UDOT with your concern about the vehicle noise and heavy truck traffic on 9000 South in between Mountain View Corridor and 4800 South.  The heavy truck traffic diversion down to Old Bingham Highway that you saw a few years back was more than likely due to interchange construction at the 9000 South/ Mountain View Corridor intersection which would temporarily block truck access to Mountain View Corridor.  Now that the access to Mountain View Corridor has been reestablished via 9000 South it makes sense that trucks have started to utilize this route again.  Aside from extremely heavy loads, wide loads, and construction diversions, UDOT isn't able to dictate where commercial vehicles are allowed to drive on highways that we own.  We try to assess and route these large trucks at our Ports of Entry when they enter the State of Utah, but once they are within our borders it becomes logistically difficult to keep tabs on them and where they choose to drive.  Our roadways are designed for what is called a WB-67 vehicle which is a semi-truck with a trailer.  We design the roadways geometrically and also structurally for this kind of vehicle so that the roadway can stand up to the load that it creates when it is driving on it.  UDOT's SR-209 (aka 9000 South) is one of our roads that we designed so that large trucks can utilize it for commerce. Regarding the request for noise walls please see the attached letter from our Environmental Division here at UDOT. I have been in contact with them and they deal with noise wall studies and installations. Thank you again for contacting UDOT with your suggestions and concerns. Please reach out to us again if you have any other ideas or comments about the roadways that we all share.

Where do I find the attached letter?

Where do I find the attached letter?

The letter is attached to the response given on 08/17/2017. Here is the text of the letter in case you are unable to locate or open it:

*** Dear Ms. Fankhauser-

UDOT’s current Noise Abatement Policy 08A2-01 has been developed in accordance with federal regulation 23 CFR 772 - Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise and Construction Noise and Utah Administrative Code R930-3 – Highway Noise Abatement. Specifically within the UDOT Noise Abatement Policy there are three types of projects: Type I, Type II, and Type III. Of these project types, noise abatement (i.e. noise wall) is only considered for Type I Projects where noise impacts are identified.

Type I projects include:
a. The construction of a highway on new location; or a substantial horizontal alteration or substantial vertical alteration of an existing highway; or,
b. The addition of a through traffic lane, the addition of a through traffic lane that functions as a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, High Occupancy/Toll (HOT) lane, bus lane or climbing lane; or,
c. The addition of an auxiliary lane, except for when the auxiliary lane is a turn lane; or,
d. The addition or relocation of interchange lanes or ramps added to a quadrant to complete a partial interchange; or,
e. Restriping existing pavement for the purpose of adding a through traffic lane or an auxiliary lane; or,
f. The addition of a new or substantial alteration of a weigh station, rest stop, ride share lot or toll plaza.
g. If a project is determined to be a Type I Project under this definition, then the entire project area as defined in the environmental document is a Type 1 Project.

The current request to install noise walls in this area is considered a Type II project, defined by the policy as a “retrofit” of noise abatement along an existing highway. Currently, UDOT does not provide a Type II program.

At UDOT we recognizes we have a responsibility to minimize noise impacts that may adversely impact residents located in the vicinity of heavily traveled roads. However, implementation of the above mentioned policies and procedures results in the determination that UDOT is not able to provide installation of noise wall along the Right-of-Way near your residence at this time.

For further information regarding the UDOT Noise Abatement Policy 08A2-01 and Utah Administrative Code R930-3, please see the following links:

https://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=10496602977480171

https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r930/r930-003.htm ***