Lightweight Absorptive Sound Walls Provide Better Option for DOT Bridge Applications

Shreveport, LA – Sound Fighter Systems, LLC submits LSE 2000 Noise Barrier Walls as preferred option over concrete for DOT bridge abatement applications. “Although concrete is well-entrenched with most DOT programs throughout the country, concrete has its drawbacks.” notes Sound Fighter’s VP Murray Stacy.  “Besides being less effective in net overall noise abatement than an absorptive wall like our LSE System, concrete extremely heavy – rendering it unsuitable for most bridge applications.  What good is a noise barrier if it has huge gaps at every bridge.” 

Pre-cast concrete walls have long been the standard sound wall product for DOT use, mainly due to its widespread availability. But a primary flaw with concrete is its weight – rendering it unusable for most bridge applications without costly structural retrofit of the bridge beforehand.  The lighter weight nature of synthetic absorptive noise barriers like Sound Fighter’s LSE System allows their use on bridges without the need for retrofit.  The combination of this feature, the soaring cost of concrete, and the demand for better noise mitigation performance has increased the demand for absorptive walls.  “It’s a tough habit to break, but we seem to be making some headway with several DOT’s.” continues Stacy. “If we ever get the chance to show them the economic and acoustic advantages of our LSE System versus concrete, they usually give us a try… and that’s all we need.”