Market Summary: Walls, 2007
by Rich Davis, Editor in Chief
State DOT:
Since 1989 roughly 98 linear miles of noise barriers are constructed annually at a cost of $150 million each year. Using average spacing, this accounts for about 35,000 foundations each year. Generally speaking, foundations typically represent around 33% of the total project cost making the market size for State DOT noise barrier foundations roughly $50 million annually. Helical Pier World has identified over 800 separate noise barriers scheduled for construction by State DOTs over the next five years.
Local Municipality: This area covers a number of organizations that have public funding as the means for constructing their noise barriers. They include City Governments, Transportation Authorities, Toll Roads, Public Transit, Utility Companies, and others. This market is many times intermingled with State DOTs, which means many of these projects receive federal funding just like DOT projects. As a small example, The MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) of Southern California is responsible for all federally funded retro-fit barriers in the Los Angeles area. They have a backlog of 197 miles of noise barriers. Overall, this market is somewhat more challenging to quantify. However, with the backlogs in numerous states it is safe to assume that this market represents about 20,000 foundations with a dollar value of $20 million annually.
Privacy & Security Walls: This market entails smaller walls that typically shield a neighborhood or business from the surrounding community. This market is considerably difficult to quantify. We do know that there are literally hundreds of companies that compete in this market. We feel comfortable estimating this market to be roughly 115,000 foundations annually with a value of $125 million.
Homeland Security: The security of our national infrastructure has been brought to the forefront of the security wall industry. Examples include:
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Replacing chain-link fencing around electrical substations with more robust concrete walls. The challenge is many substations are located in remote areas. Although wall panels can be pre-fabricated and delivered without much trouble, getting concrete trucks to deliver the concrete for the foundations can be difficult at best. Helical Piers are ideally suited for such applications, and HPW estimates a total market potential of $100 million.
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Congress has already passed the bill providing funding for the security wall that will span the southern border between the United States and Mexico. This wall will be roughly 1,900 miles in length. Preliminary designs for this wall indicate the foundations will be spaced at 6 foot intervals. This equates to roughly 1,600,000 foundations with an estimated value of $900 million.
