advocating for noise barrier along I-85 in Orange County...

[Luke Pangle]

Dear Commissioners,

My name is Luke Pangle.  I live at 2325 Old Oak Pl, Hillsborough, NC with my wife and two children.  I am writing to strongly urge you to advocate for a noise barrier along the section of Interstate 85 spanning from the NC-86 intersection and continuing northbound (really eastbound) for approximately 2 miles.  There are several residential areas along this corridor, including our neighborhood, that are plagued by intense noise from the interstate.  In particular, the roar from modified mufflers on passenger vehicles, motor cycles, and gear shifts and air braking on tractor trailers radiates for many hundreds of yards.  The noise permeates our house, especially during otherwise quiet times at night.  We have to operate white-noise machines in all bedrooms for our family members to be able to sleep.

I have corresponded with my state legislators (Representative Price and Senator Meyer) and have come to understand the following conditions:

• NCDOT won't do a noise study or intervene unless there is active construction;
• NCDOT includes in their 10-year plan lane expansions on this section of highway, though that project is not currently funded;
• If funded, a noise study would be conducted during the project and an enhanced berm, barrier wall, or other intervention might be implemented.

The first point is especially frustrating and illogical to me, since a section of highway may be unmodified for many years or decades while residential development continues around it.  The results of any noise study completed during construction would seemingly become irrelevant over that time scale.  If there is a lane expansion in the near future, then an effective noise barrier would be essential.  It seems like there is no path forward at this time but I want to keep emphasizing the need for noise reduction in this area.  The noise is a significant negative impact on quality of life for many residents along this continuously developing corridor.  Thank you for your consideration and I will appreciate your correspondence about any possible course of action.

Thank you,

Luke Pangle  

[Jean Hamilton]

Dear Mr. Pangle,

 

On behalf of the BOCC, thank you for sharing your concerns about how traffic noise along Interstate 85 affects your family in Hillsborough.  Your understanding of this issue from corresponding with Representative Price and Senator Meyer aligns with our understanding.  Reaching out to state legislators, as you have done, would have been my suggested course of action. Commissioners serve on various transportation boards and committees and the chair and/or vice chair and transportation staff meet quarterly with NCDOT.  Your email is a reminder to include this issue of noise impacts when discussing highway matters.

 

Sincerely,

Jean

 

Jean Hamilton, Chair

Orange County Board of Commissioners

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From: Luke Pangle <lukep...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 4, 2026 9:13 PM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: advocating for noise barrier along I-85 in Orange County...

 

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