When route I-595 opened 20 years ago, sound wasn’t a problem. The road carried drivers through miles of farmland where commuting wasn’t top priority.
Today, however, the community has grown and the state of Florida has approved projects to begin soundproofing the highway, protecting nearby homes from the drone of passing motorists, of which there are more than ever before.
The problem? The public can’t seem to figure out just how the government is deciding which communities will receive their sound wall panels first (if ever). Some have accused the government of targeting the higher-value homes of millionaires first, possibly for political reasons. Those accusations have been denied. The Florida DOT insists that they use a formula to determine how many homes will benefit from the construction of each wall, comparing it to the cost to determine which area goes first.
More than 21 neighborhoods qualify for sound barriers. Only time will tell how many will be completed – and in what order.