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Noise Barrier Graphs

Barrier Foundation and Costs

Average Noise Wall Height by Foundation Type

Walls from 1963 - 2022

This graph shows a comparison of average noise wall Heights by Foundation types for barriers built between 1963 and 2022 compared to noise walls built between 2020 and 2022. Berms are excluded. Barrier walls On Structure are an average of 3 feet shorter, at a little over12 feet, than Ground Mounted ones, at about 15 feet.
Barrier Foundation and Costs, 1963-2022
Foundation Average Height Total Length Percent Length Total Square Feet Percent Square Feet Average Unit Cost Total Cost Percent Cost
Ground Mounted 14.4 8,768,890 43% 133,181,975 44% $41.17 $4,563,195,733 42%
On Structure 11.8 562,895 3% 6,301,119 2% $65.96 $383,591,588 4%
Both 14.6 767,400 4% 11,379,111 4% $34.17 $367,344,847 3%
Unreported* 13.7 10,312,217 51% 149,239,002 50% $40.11 $5,510,630,099 51%
Total/Average 13.6 20,411,402 - 300,101,207 - 45.35 $10,824,762,267 -
This graph shows the average unit for noise walls built between 1963 and 2022 compared to noise walls built between 2020 and 2022. Berms were excluded from this dataset. Overall, noise walls on structure tend to be more expensive than either Ground Mounted ones, or ones that are combination Ground Mounted and On Structure. The current reporting period shows costs for Ground Mounted walls comparable to costs for On Structure walls because costs for Ground Mounted walls are much higher in this reporting period than for the historic reporting period.
Barrier Foundation and Costs, 1963-2022 (Only Walls, without Berms)
Foundation Average Height Total Length Percent Length Total Square Feet Percent Square Feet Average Unit Cost  Total Cost Percent Cost
Ground Mounted 14.6 8,015,312 41% 122,917,182 42% $43.15 $4,335,748,077 41%
On Structure 11.8 562,895 3% 6,301,119 2% $65.96 $383,591,588 4%
Both 14.7 741,379 4% 11,022,491 4% $34.46 $355,670,096 3%
Unreported 13.7 10,312,217 53% 149,239,002 52% $40.11 $5,510,630,099 52%
Total/Average 13.7 19,631,803 - 289,479,794 - 45.92 $10,585,639,861 -
This graph shows data relating to noise wall foundations and costs for barriers built between 2020 and 2022. No berms were included in this dataset. The inner ring shows percentage data relating to 'Length', the middle ring shows percentage data relating to 'Square Feet', and the outer ring shows percentage data relating to 'Cost' for each Foundation type - Ground Mounted, On Structure, or a combination of Both. Ground mounted barriers account for the vast majority of noise wall length, area, and cost.
Barrier Foundation and Costs, 2020-2022 (Only Walls, without Berms)
Foundation Average Height Total Length Percent Length Total Square Feet Percent Square Feet Average Unit Cost Total Cost Percent Cost
Ground Mounted 15.0 911,479 78% 18,679,084 83% $48.62 $756,196,187 82%
On Structure 10.9 48,444 4% 543,744 2% $61.43 $33,112,768 4%
Both 16.0 156,953 13% 2,505,011 11% $39.92 $101,191,854 11%
Unreported 13.5 56,211 5% 807,106 4% $49.83 $34,481,925 4%
Total/Average 13.9 1,173,086 - 22,534,945 - 49.95 $924,982,733 -
Updated: 11/6/2023
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