MnDOT Awards Avon Funding for Noise Barrier

AVON - Some Avon residents are elated to find out they're finally getting a noise barrier along Interstate 94. City Administrator Jodi Austing-Traut says it's a project they've been asking for since the early 1990's.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced this week that they'll build the noise barrier on the north side of I-94 from east of Chinook Avenue to southwest of Middle Spunk Lake.

MnDOT will pay for the majority of the project, with Avon chipping in about 10 percent of the cost. Austing-Traut says they're still considering how they fund it.

Maybe an assessment to the property owners. Maybe the city putting in some general fund tax dollars toward the project. We're looking at assessment deferrals for folks who are 65 and older, or disabled, to give them some relief.

The total cost of the project is about $1.5 million.

Construction is expected to start in 2018.

MnDOT says about 36 homes near the interstate will benefit.