AUSTIN, Texas — If you’ve been driving down MoPac in North Austin, you’ve probably seen hundreds of tiny flags along the hillside heading southbound near Braker Lane.
So what are they?
Some wondered on Reddit if the flags could be an art installation, but that wasn’t it. The crew onsite couldn’t give KVUE a lot of answers, but the Texas Department of Transportation gave us the scoop.
While the retaining walls were built a while back, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is now planting more than 35,000 plants and seeding 1.4 acres of wildflowers.
The landscaping consists of native plants well-suited for the Austin area, such as the Mexican buckeye, desert willow and Texas red oak. The different flag colors represent different plants.
Where are the funds coming from?
According to TxDOT, this project is using Green Ribbon funds, which are set aside to plant and establish trees and greenery on state highways that help mitigate the effects of pollution.
Trees can reduce hourly ozone by up to 15%, sulfur dioxide by 14%, and particulate matter by 13%. The U.S. Forestry Service also says one large, healthy tree can remove more than 300 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year.
Are the flags part of a bigger project?
Yes! TxDOT says the area near MoPac and Braker is just one of four total projects getting landscaping done.
Currently, two sections of Interstate 35 are also part of the Green Ribbon project: One in Georgetown near Williams Drive and the other one in Austin on 51st Street.
The final location will eventually be the State Highway 45-State Highway 130 interchange.
TxDOT said it will share the project’s estimated cost and completion date soon.