Less Expensive Freeway Wall?

Every time I drive through Arcadia, this new freeway wall annoys me.

I don't begrudge Arcadians their wall, but I remember seeing this wall go up block by tedious block for month after month at a time when the state was almost as bankrupt as it is now. And I remember thinking how expensive it must have been to build it.

And then I remembered seeing what seemed to be a much less expensive solution in Illinois, where they also have freeway walls.

Now you know your state is in deep financial trouble when Illinois starts to look financially responsible, but anyway, as best I could tell, the freeway walls in Illinois were - try to picture this - constructed of pillars like fenceposts, but with vertical slots in the sides.

The slots in each pillar faced the slots in the adjacent pillars, so you could simply slide decorative sheets of concrete into them and ... Bingo! Instant freeway wall. And they looked good! Maybe this is an approach our state could use.

- Brad Haugaard