Gerard Taylor, New Hanover County maintenance engineer for the N.C. Department of Transportation, said, “The purpose of the placement on the shoulder is to establish permanent vegetation” and reduce soil erosion, helping the environment.

“The routes for this work are along U.S. 74 and I-140 … which have a history of erodible soils,” Taylor explained.

The material being placed along the road is not just plain dirt, but “soil builder,” which he said is “a nutrient-enhanced compost material.”

Date posted: August 5, 2010

User-contributed question by:
Corey Lewis