Hartford's Bradley Begins Pilot Program to Insulate Homes Against Noise

A consultant for Bradley International Airport said Wednesday that a pilot program will begin this spring to insulate homes affected by airplane noise.

Officials told a crowd of about 60 people at Windsor Locks High School where and when the six-year, $17 million noise abatement program will be implemented.

Michael Payne of The Jones Payne Group said the first phase will determine boundaries of the program area and what types of houses are there.

The boundaries encompass areas in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Suffield and East Granby that experience an average noise level of 65 decibels over a 24-hour period.

There are 321 structures within that boundary area, with 170 of them in Windsor Locks. The structures account for 555 dwelling units, 92 percent of which are single-family homes, he added.

In Phase 2, 10 residences will be chosen in the spring to be the test cases for the noise insulation work. There will be two homes in East Granby, three homes in Suffield, two homes in Windsor and three homes in Windsor Locks, he said. The number of homes is limited by funding for the pilot program from the FAA.

About 70 to 80 homes a year for the next five years will receive noise abatement work once the pilot program is completed, Payne said.

To be included in the noise abatement program, the homes must be within the boundaries and have been built before Oct. 1, 1998. The most-affected homes will be done first, as will homes occupied by their owners, Payne said.

Homeowners must also sign an easement allowing planes to fly over their homes and another homeowner's agreement to participate in the program, Payne said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is funding 80 percent of the program and the airport is paying the rest, John Wallace, airport spokesman, said.

The airport and its consultants are working to keep the community surrounding Bradley informed about what work will be done.

``We're trying to be a good neighbor,'' Wallace said.

First Selectman Steven Wawruck said his office has received many phone calls from residents who aren't in the program area. He said the program is a good one.

``It's a start in the right direction,'' Wawruck said.

Spring Street resident Dave McCue said he is not yet sure whether his home is in the program area, but he is curious about what kind of materials will be used to noise insulate the homes.

Another meeting for affected residents in East Granby, Windsor and Suffield will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Suffield Middle School, 350 Mountain Road, Suffield.

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