The city of Colorado Springs is hosting an open house Thursday evening to answer residents’ questions about the planned extension of Powers Boulevard on the northeast side of the city, including a noise study to determine whether abatement measures are needed. 

The project is meant to make traffic flow more efficient between Voyager Parkway and Colorado 83, which are the only access points for the proposed extension. Years in development, the project is a recipient of key project tax funding from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.

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A new Voyager Parkway bridge to support the expansion completed construction in March of this year, meant to carry local traffic over the Powers expansion. City engineer Ryan Phipps told The Gazette earlier this year that the bridge project was “accelerated” to alleviate traffic concerns from construction on Powers. 

The public meeting on Thursday will provide information on an underway noise study on a 500-foot buffer from the planned roadway. According to a white paper released on the noise study, scientists will be in the process of gathering acoustic data in the buffer zone to determine the existing noise level later this summer. 

Then, a Federal Highway Administration traffic-noise-model computer program will estimate how the new roadway would increase noise levels.

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Planners’ consideration of noise abatement will come down to whether the predicted noise levels are higher than established thresholds, according to the white paper. 

“It is critically important to remember that just because a study is happening, it doesn’t mean that mitigation solutions (e.g., noise walls or berms) will be put in place,” the document reads. 

The public meeting will provide information on the overall project and the noise study, according to the city. The open house will be 5:30-7 p.m. at Discovery Canyon High School. More information can be found at the project website.