Horses clip-clop as they approach an equine visitor. A metallic clanging rings out as an employee adjusts horseshoes. A whistle cuts through the air as stable owner Margaret France-Culley reins in her rambunctious dogs.  Heber City resident Julie LeSueur is riding in Northfield Stables’ arena . Credit: Christopher Reeves These noises break the silence at Northfield Stables, a business about three-quarters of a mile west of the Utah Department of Transportation’s preferred route for the Heber Valley bypass. This new highway would divert traffic from U.S. 40 off Heber City’s bustling Main Street.  France-Culley purchased her 20 acres of “plain field with barbed wire and cow patties” in the North Fields in 2000. She was 30 at the time, transitioning from a career as a massage therapist after buying her first horse at 20 and studying with horse trainer Pat Parelli every summer since she was 25. “I loved horses so much, I’d buy every horse magazine and read everything from cover to cover,” she said.  These days, Northfield Stables is almost always full. Boarders come not just for France-Culley’s teaching, but to enjoy the serenity of nature. If UDOT sticks with its preferred bypass route through the North Fields, a highway would be visible on the horizon once it’s built. One of France-Culley’s greatest concerns is the noise. She said the area is usually so silent she can hear the Provo River and occasional traffic from River Road and Midway Lane.  “For some of the horses, some aren’t going to mind the noise, but others are,” she said. “They’ll just balk and not want to go forward, get scared if you try to push them, and you can kind of push them into being more frightened. … We can train them out of it. But the joy of coming riding out here is enjoying the silence and the sounds of nature and the birds instead of listening to semitrucks.” UDOT senior communications manager Wyatt Woolley said noise will be minimal at the stable. “I’ll be frank, (it) is nowhere near Route B in the North Fields,” he said. “You’d be hard-pressed to say you could hear the traffic. I’m sure you could hear, like, cars honking their horns or super loud trucks with engine brakes from a distance, but you probably could in lots of places in the valley.” Analyzing noise Heber City resident Deb Horn feeding horse “Pi” treats in the stable. Credit: Christopher ReevesHeber City resident Julie LaSueur brushing and feeding horse “Pi” in the stable after riding in Northfield Stables’ arena. Credit: Christopher ReevesHeber City resident Julie LaSueur brushing and feeding horse “Pi” in the stable after riding in Northfield Stables’ arena. Credit: Christopher Reeves Although Northfield Stables was not in the area of study, UDOT has analyzed the noise impacts of the Heber Valley bypass. For a project that builds a new road, such as the bypass, UDOT categorizes land uses in the project area into seven categories created by the Federal Highway Administration to determine whether noise analysis is needed next to the corridor. Northfield Stables is classified as category B, or residential, as are a few other homes in the North Fields.  But the majority of the marshland area is classified as category F, which includes agricultural lands. The Federal Highway Administration classifies category F as not sensitive to traffic noise, meaning an analysis of noise is not required for land in that category. “There’s nothing out there. It’s so far away from most businesses, residences and people that (analysis) just isn’t warranted currently,” Woolley said. Gary Brown is an independent contractor and does the horseshoeing for horses at stables throughout Utah. Credit: Christopher Reeves The Federal Highway Administration has determined a noise level for each land use category, measured in A-weighted decibels, or dBA, at which noise abatement must be considered.  UDOT would have to consider noise abatement for the bypass if the future worst-case noise level is equal to or greater than the noise-abatement criterion for a land use category, or if the bypass would raise the noise level in an area at least 10 dBA over the current noise level. Using a Larson Davis sound level meter, UDOT measured existing noise levels at 24 locations along the bypass route over four days in July 2022. Each location was monitored for 20 minutes.  Using the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Noise Model, UDOT then projected traffic noise levels for both bypass alternatives: its preferred Alternative B, which would cut through the North Fields between Potters Lane and 900 North; and Alternative A, which would keep traffic on U.S. 40 between those two roads. Of the noise-sensitive areas next to the bypass, referred to as receptors, UDOT predicted that 277 of 1,417 receptors would experience noise impacts if Alternative B was built. Alternative A would have about 5% fewer noise impacts, impacting 230 of 1,480 receptors.  For both alternatives, nearly all noise impacts are to residential areas.  Noise walls Noise abatement must be feasible and reasonable for UDOT to consider implementing a noise barrier.  UDOT defines feasibility and reasonability through a variety of factors, including cost-effectiveness and effectiveness at noise reduction. UDOT outlines how it measures those factors in the Heber Valley bypass draft environmental impact statement. For both routes, UDOT considered 24 noise barriers. Of those barriers, UDOT classified three as feasible and reasonable for both routes.  The view from 100 S./Midway Lane, next to Deer Creek High School. This is a view looking northeast into the field where the Heber Valley bypass will potentially be built.The view from 100 S./Midway Lane, next to Deer Creek High School. This is a view looking northeast into the field where the Heber Valley bypass will potentially be built. Credit: Christopher ReevesNorthfield Stables pasture looking east toward where Alternative B for the Heber Valley bypass would be located. Credit: Christopher Reeves The first could be 383 feet long and 11 feet tall, located on the east side of the U.S. 40 frontage road near 3390 North. It could cost $84,260 and benefit eight receptors. The second could be 1,499 feet long and 13 feet tall, located between 1000 West and Industrial Parkway. It could cost $389,740 and benefit 14 receptors. The third could be 853 feet long and 9 feet tall, located between Industrial Parkway and 300 West. It could cost $153,540 and benefit 13 receptors. UDOT recommends a fourth noise barrier if Alternative A is built. It could be 1,600 feet long and 17 feet tall, located between 250 and U.S. 40. It could cost $544,000 and benefit 26 receptors. In other words, if Alternative B is built, 35 of 277 receptors that have anticipated noise impacts could receive noise mitigation. That’s 12.6%.  If Alternative A is built, 61 of 230 receptors that have anticipated noise impacts could receive noise mitigation. That’s 26.5%. While UDOT recommends these noise walls, it does not guarantee they will be built. Woolley explained that in considering the barriers, UDOT would mail ballots to existing and planned property owners and residents who would benefit from the noise wall to ask whether they want to see it built. He said that 70% of those ballots must be mailed back to UDOT, and of those ballots, another 70% must be in favor of the noise wall for it to be built. “We’ve got to take into account that not everyone likes noise walls, because they can be quite high, … and depending on where they’re put, it kind of blocks your view. And some people don’t want their view blocked,” he said. “If enough people say no, or if not enough people respond, then we simply won’t do it.” Woolley said the noise impact study in the draft environmental impact statement is preliminary, and another study would be performed as the bypass becomes an “actual project,” which Woolley doesn’t see happening until 2032 at the earliest. Northfield Stables looks forward Margaret Frances-Culley in the play field with “Breezy Bree.” Credit: Christopher ReevesMargaret Frances-Culley in the play field with “Breezy Bree.” Credit: Christopher ReevesThe horse in the foreground is “Cotton” (because of the white on the upper tail). She was two years old when the Margaret Frances-Culley purchased the land for Northfield Stables. She is now 28 years old. The horse in the background is Gi Gi. Credit: Christopher Reeves Although UDOT does not classify Northfield Stables as experiencing noise impacts, Frances-Culley and her patrons still think the sights and sounds of the bypass will change the character of the area. Diana Guay, who has boarded at the stable for five years, lives in Park City and calls Northfield Stables her happy place. “I get out here, and I can look and not see traffic. I can look and not see apartments or housing developments. In Park City, everywhere, ‘Look, there’s somebody digging up something to put something in,’” she said.  But, Guay noted, she would never board anywhere else — not only because she’s “fallen in love” with Frances-Culley, but also because many other horse stables are surrounded by development. “We’ll always have a clientele. I’m not worried about that,” Frances-Culley said. “It’s such a slice of heaven out here.” The post Northfield Stables raises concerns about noise of Heber Valley bypass appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less