Crews from Piedmont Landscaping recently began installing median landscaping on Ga. Highway 54 East in Peachtree City stretching from Peachtree Parkway to the city limits.

The 1.2 mile long project has been on the shelf since October 2007 when Gov. Sonny Perdue ordered that no landscaping be installed at “state facilities” due to the drought.

Now that the drought has been lifted, so has the ban on landscaping. So the beautification of the corridor can commence, with 339 trees, more than 2,000 shrubs and a significant amount of groundcover planting as well.

The project was awarded to Piedmont Landscaping with a bid of $198,209, nearly $27,000 off the initial estimate.
The bid includes a two year maintenance and plant guarantee, officials said. The city will have to match 20 percent of the cost, just under $40,000. The remaining 80 percent is coming from a state grant program for transportation enhancements.

The project is the final of four phases that have been undertaken with private and city funds to enhance the curb appeal of the 54E corridor following its widening from two to four lanes.