The PA Turnpike MUST Build Sound Walls Between Downingtown and Rt. 29

The Pennsylvania Turnpike will be widened from 2 to 3 lanes between Downingtown and Route 29 beginning in the fall, 2019. No sound walls will be erected anywhere along this stretch of road. Thousands of residents have already been adversely affected by the high levels of noise emanating from the road; this noise will only increase in the coming years.
Noise is a pollutant. Congress acknowledged this fact when it passed the Noise Pollution and Abatement Act of 1972. The World Health Organization has determined that noise levels of more than 50 dB are so harmful they actually blot out the natural sounds of people speaking to each other.
Noise levels from the Turnpike greatly exceed this measure: truck diesel engines laboring on upgrades, and brake retarders that sound like machine guns at 4 o'clock in the morning can awaken people, even with the windows closed.
Turnpike noise is ruining our quality of life: it can and must be controlled. If noise barriers are not installed concurrently with the new construction, they never will be. The Turnpike Authority must reverse its decisions and add sound walls to the project.