Houston drivers are beginning to see more aesthetically pleasing
freeways emerging from the concrete structural pieces lying around
roadway construction sites. The usual plain round or square concrete
pillars are being replaced with arch shaped supports, with surfaces
embellished with specially designed patterns. Newly built ramps also
have concrete walls highlighted by design schemes.
These changes in freeway design are the result of an effort by the
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to improve the appearance of
roadways, and make them a more visually pleasing part of the urban
landscape. TxDOT has initiated a district-wide plan to enhance Houston's
roadways by the use of visual design principles and landscaping. The
plan is called the Green Ribbon Project because it is an effort to
transform the concrete-dominated freeway areas into ribbons of green.
TxDOT says the project provides them with guidelines "to
integrate environmental and aesthetics issues with roadway
functionality, and is applicable to all TxDOT roadways within the
Houston District." One of the priorities of the project will be to
apply planting concepts to the roadways. This will be done by using
Native Naturalized plants, because of their economic benefits such as
reduced maintenance cost.
A mixture of fast-growing indigenous tree species, shrubs and small
trees will be planted along interchanges to add a greener look to the
landscape. Spaces between main lanes and frontage roads will typically
include shrubs and grasses. Frontage road curbs and the edges of
rights-of-way will primarily have grass planting where clear lines of
sight are required for safe driving. Detention ponds near freeway
corridors, which are utilized for flood control, provide another area
for planting.
TxDOT has divided its Houston district into three regional zones
which will each be assigned a specific roadway design scheme. The
northern corridor, which includes US 290 and IH 610 east of US 290, will
have a vertical scheme consisting of structural elements with vertical
shapes and tree-like columns that reflect the character of the pine
