ASK THE ADVOCATE: Interstate sound walls

Advocate staff photo by RICHARD ALAN HANNON -- Ivy grows along a west-bound Interstate 12 sound wall near the I-10/I-12 split Thursday. Ask the Advocate to run Monday.

Q. Who is responsible for maintaining the greenery on the sound walls along Interstates 10 and 12 in Baton Rouge?

A. Response from Dustin Annison, public information officer with the state Department of Transportation and Development:

DOTD’s roadside maintenance crew maintains the sound walls near the I-10/I-12 split in Baton Rouge.

The vines were planted on the sound walls to soften the appearance of the concrete and to create a green space. The vines that were planted are a fig vine (ficus pumila), a green leafy vine, and the other vine is called Cat’s Claw (macfadyena unguis-cati), which is a yellow trumpet flowering vine.

For information, visit www.dotd.la.gov, email [e-mail], or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1 (877) 4LADOTD (1 [phone]). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Send questions to Ask The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588; or fax to Ask The Advocate, [phone]; or email [e-mail]