LANDSCAPING PROJECT BEAUTIFIES INTERSTATE 35E PARKWAY IN ST. PAUL

(Roseville, Minn.) - Travelers on the Interstate 35E Parkway in St. Paul will enjoy a more scenic trip this summer following landscaping and rehabilitation in the median between West Seventh Street and Grand Avenue. Brightly colored serpentine arbor and trellis structures installed along the parkway, strung with a grid of stainless steel aircraft cable under tension will support the growth of vines as an alternative to trees, shrubs and other plants.

"As sculptural focal elements that repeat every so often, we hope that the vine-covered structures will serve as visual and dynamically changing accents at any time of year regardless of the condition of the vines," stated Scott Bradley, Mn/DOT Landscape Architect. "We want to become less reliant upon the vigor and appearance of plants as the sole indicator of success and visual interest in the median," he added.

The project also includes replacing many plants that have died or declined after 10 years or more in a tough environment. Dead and ailing plants will be cleared and replaced with hardier foliage requiring less maintenance. Besides the planting, crews are sandblasting and repainting light poles and repairing the irrigation system in the median.

During the landscaping, motorists will encounter non-rush hour, daytime lane closures on the inside lanes of the north and southbound roadway until early June.

PROJECT DETAILS: