Oak Park is considering installing “noise walls” beside Interstate 290, and is putting mock walls beside the expressway so village residents can get an idea of the size of the real thing.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) plans to rebuild and widen I-290, and residents in communities beside the expressway will vote on whether or not they want the noise barriers installed. Some of the walls may be as much as 17 feet high.
Oak Park is putting up the mock walls, which are made of opaque fabric, in two places: at the intersections of Wenonah Avenue and Harrison Street, and Taylor Avenue and Garfield Street. The fence at Harrison and Wenonah is 17 feet high, and the one at Garfield and Taylor is 15 feet. The mock walls will remain standing for approximately one month.
According to Anan Abu-Taleb, Oak Park's mayor, the walls are going up because Oak Park residents have to make a decision about the installation. He wanted people to see for themselves the appearance of the wall before they vote for or against it.
IDOT could provide as many as 12 sections of walls to the village. IDOT mailed ballots to residents asking for their opinion about installing the walls.
Oak Park might reinforce IDOT's efforts by working with a postcard printing company on a mailer, reminding residents to reply to IDOT.
