Maple Grove Sees Both Sides to I-94 Noise Wall

Members of the Maple Grove City Council are weighing in on noise reduction walls, especially those planned along Rice Lake.

Noise walls have been a hot topic the past couple weeks as MnDOT prepares for a reconstruction project along Interstate 94. MnDOT has budgeted $7.6 million for a total of four 20-foot high walls in Maple Grove, including two along Rice Lake on the north side of I-94.

Out of the more than 160 homeowners who are part of the Rice Lake Area Association, more than 80 percent favor a noise wall. But Maple Grove City Council member Karen Jaeger, who lives along Rice Lake and hears the noise, feels “it’s a waste of money.”

“Why do we want to cover up? One of our diamonds of Maple Grove is Rice Lake. You drive through other cities. You drive the freeway, there’s nothing to see, but houses and land and maybe a few walls. Then you get to Maple Grove and you come to this beautiful Rice Lake.”

Engineers say the wall may help for some homeowners, but for others across the lake, it may not help at all.

Residents impacted by the project should have received a letter in the mail from MnDOT. There’s about a week left to give feedback.