#Why Can’t We Fix That: KRDO investigates sound wall complaints

In tonight’s “Why Can’t We Fix That” – KRDO investigates complaints of excessive noise in neighborhoods where people claim there aren’t enough sound walls.

The issue surrounds a neighborhood tucked right beside I-25 near Garden of the Gods. There, you’ll meet Craig Mackes.

“It’s so loud, it wakes me up every morning, I just can’t stand it,” Mackes said.

Mackes, along with dozens of his neighbors are fed up with what they called a “destroyed neighborhood” suffering from too much traffic noise.

“The sound walls we have in our neighborhood were built in 2007…they’re not meant for a 2019 population,” said Mackes.

Mackes started a petition including dozens of signatures trying to get help from Colorado Department of Transportation on the matter. But despite complaints filed, neighbors feel they’re being ignored.

“They’ve made it clear to us they’re going to do nothing to improve the wall at this time,” said Macke’s neighbor, Jackie Glass.

So the big question is: why? Michelle Peulen, with CDOT explains fixing it — would just be too expensive.

“CDOT currently is running on a one billion dollar shortfall every year,” said Peulen.

To put things in perspective, just a mile of sound wall can cost a whopping $1-3 million.

“It’s just not going to be on the priority list,” Peulen said.

The only way the issue will make it on that list is if the decibel reading consistently reaches 66. Then CDOT will be required under federal guidelines to address the problem.