This summer, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) installed artificial turf for a median on the I-95 and I-10 interchange in Jacksonville, Fla.

The installation was part of a $2.4M project for "sustainable green landscaping" on the I-95 & I-10 interchange. FDOT isn't planning to use artificial turf elsewhere, but said the installation met a promise the department made to the community years ago to beautify the area after constructing the highway overpass.

The contractor for the project, Paul Kassab of Sun State Nursery & Landscape, selected the LXR PRO commercial grass series from Artificial Turf Supply. Compared to the grass the FDOT was unsuccessfully trying to grow on the median, it is essentially more "sustainable," in that the product has an 8-year warranty. According to the manufacturer, the pile fiber is a dual-color (the green in the "green") 100 percent polyethylene, 100 microns thick with a secondary thatch zone. The primary backing is a heat and UV-resistant three-layer weave. A secondary backing locks the fiber tufts in place to the primary backing.

For FDOT, the artificial turf will save on mowing maintenance and on the water bill, a plus for a state experiencing extreme drought. When it does rain, it will help with drainage (30 inches per hour drainage capacity), not allowing mud to go on the road. The fake turf also acts as an erosion control blanket. For drivers, they get a passing glimpse of "manicured" green, for what that's worth.