New Duarte Soundwall Unveiled

DUARTE, CA - November 6, 2011 - Part two of the long awaited Duarte Soundwall project on the north side of the 210 freeway a roaring musical welcome by the Duarte High School Falcon Band on November 3rd in a public ribbon cutting ceremony on the front lawn of Duarte High School.

The event, hosted by Duarte Councilmember John Fasana, who also serves as the San Gabriel Valley's appointment to the METRO board, was credited by numerous speakers as being the sole reason why the wall finally came to fruition for residents and students.  The sound wall has been needed since the freeway was opened in the early 70's to provide noise relief to adjacent Duarte schools and neighborhoods.

The approximate ½ mile project funded by Metro and constructed by Caltrans was completed including landscaping earlier this month at an approximate cost of $ 2.3 million.  The 14-foot high freeway wall runs between Highland Ave and approximately 40-feet past the Duncannon bridge structure and was constructed by the firm of O’Donnell Construction Inc. of San Dimas.

Back in  2001, Caltrans completed the first leg of two needed Duarte soundwalls; a total of 6,381 feet of sound walls along 1.4 miles of the 210 freeway between Bradbury Ave. to Highland Ave. and from Bradbourne Ave. to Duncannon Ave. including a distinctive 140 foot poured in place concrete mural.