Jul 28, 2008 5:43 am US/Pacific
Interstate 5 Open As 'Big Fix' Ends
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
The 'Big Fix' is over and IInterstate 5 in downtown Sacramento is open after weeks of construction work but crews will be putting the finishing touches on an unusually "sharp" landscaping project for a couple weeks longer.
The first cars were let through the construction zone right at 5am this morning.
They had been expected to be opened earlier but there were some minor delays do to a striping issue on the J Street off ramp.
Contractor C.C. Myers says crews will be putting the finishing touches on an unusually "sharp" landscaping project for a couple weeks longer.
Broken glass, 900 tons of broken bottles, is the key ingredient for the project alongside the interstate.
"On the surface it may seem like a kooky idea," said Caltrans spokesman Mark Dinger. "We're putting it in an elevated area where pedestrians are not allowed."
The new landscaping is carrying on the new color scheme through the I-5 corridor through downtown Sacramento. Over a clear glass base, backhoes are scooping a green and amber combination, topped off by a special layer of broken blue from Skyy Vodka bottles.
"We wanted the blue to be very bright," Dinger said.
All of the glass is material that would have otherwise ended up loading down a landfill.
"It represents nearly 200,000 wine, liquor and beer bottles," Dinger said.
It's not meant to be touched, but the chunks have been tumbled to take off the sharp edges, and the pieces are big enough to not blow away.
Another plus: Low cost of maintenance. Weeds cannot grow in that environment. Caltrans has only three landscaping crews charged with maintaining hundreds of acres of roadside land in Sacramento.
"Asthetically, it should look the same now as 10 years from now," said contractor Scott Esson.
It's meant to be a little something different to brighten up the drive.
Caltrans has been so selective about the color scheme that they sent the glass back three times until they got the combination they wanted. The landscaping project is expected to take a few extra weeks to complete.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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