SAN CLEMENTE : Council Rejects Caltrans Plan for Decorating Freeway Sound Walls

The City Council has decided not to support a Caltrans project that calls for dressing up freeway sound walls with Fiberglas art panels.

Using federal funds earmarked to beautify freeways, Caltrans plans to spend $1.3 million for the project on stretches of Interstate 5 and other highways in cities such as Irvine, Tustin, Seal Beach, Placentia, Fullerton, Costa Mesa and Brea.

Five artists have been selected to submit design proposals for the freeway sound walls. The section of wall in San Clemente to be decorated was along Interstate 5, between Avenida Calafia and El Camino Real.

But City Council members unanimously agreed Wednesday that they don’t want the project, which aims to reduce graffiti and provide added scenery for motorists.

“In an urban setting, maybe this is an appropriate thing to do, but it’s not the image I want for our community,” Mayor Candace Haggard said.

City staff members had recommended that the city continue to participate in an Aesthetics Advisory Committee for the project.

Caltrans officials said Friday that the agency would not force the project on San Clemente.

According to Caltrans, the project has won the support of the Orange County Transportation Authority, the California Art Council, the Newport Beach Art Commission and the cities of Brea, Irvine and Seal Beach.