CHAMPION – Residents in the Stewart Street NW and Brookside Drive NW neighborhoods said they are tired of hearing all the loud noise coming from the many vehicles on the state Route 5 bypass, which is in their backyards.

Resident Tamie Hoostal and others from the neighborhood asked trustees this week if they can ask the Ohio Department of Transportation to put in a noise wall because of the loud noise from the constant daily traffic on the heavily-traveled route.

Trustee Chairman Rex Fee said he understands the residents’ concerns since the neighborhood was in place before the interstate went in. He said the backyards of residents on Stewart Street are up against the highway and separated by fencing.

Fee said he will contact ODOT to see if a study can be done to determine the noise decibel level coming from traffic on the road and if it justifies installing a noise wall. He said he believes a petition will need to be circulated in the area, with at least 50 percent of the residents needing to sign it.

Read more in Thursday’s Tribune Chronicle.