I-385

[jarvismj]

As for the landscaped medians, I know Minneapolis, Raleigh, a small section of OKC and Tulsa, and several others that I can't think of right now.

[RestedTraveler]

Lanscaped medians placed between concrete barriers or landscaped medians in general? There are landscaped medians all over the place

[krazeeboi]

I-26 west into Columbia and I-77 south into Columbia

[Spartan]

Most of 26 between Columbia and Charleston is like that.

[Brandon]

Some friends and I were just commenting today that its a shame the 385 bridges werent given a little more style. (Particularly the new bridge that leads right into downtown)

In Peoria, IL, they did something similar to what Greenville has seen happening--widening the main Interstate and replacing all the bridges that cross it. However, the bridge abuttments on the new Peoria bridges were all given an art-deco-ish look...very simple, but really looks nice. I wish the same had happened here.

[gs3]

Snapped this shot from 385 this morning....the mountains were really showing up well. Gorgeous morning!

[Greenville]

Beautiful shot of the mountains, gsupstate! Thanks for sharing this photo!

[goodbye]

FANTASTIC shot, gsupstate!!! I was remarking the exact same thing while driving on I-385 today. Just imagine how wonderful the view will be from the plaza at Villagio Verde, just up and to the right of your location in the photo. B)

[RestedTraveler]

Wow, gsupstate! That's a beautiful shot! Today looks to have been what I've come to refer to as a "three deep day." It makes me homesick...

[GvilleSC]

Today was an absolutely great day in Greenville! The sky was so clear, no haze...

I love that shot. That my favorite part of 385 when the mountains appear on the horizon and as you go around the curve the blue ridge yeild Greenville's skyline...

[gs3]

Thanks guys! Yeah, on a clear day, I could just drive this route over and over again. The whole 385 drive is getting so much more pleasant with the landscaping, etc. Anybody know when the Max Heller gateway is supposed to start?

[btoy]

Another Great View in the Area is seen when you Drive Haywood Rd. north from Pelham to East North St.

[Sandlapper]

Another Great View in the Area is seen when you Drive Haywood Rd. north from Pelham to East North St.

AMEN!!! I live right off of E. North at that end so I see that view almost everyday. I've always wished I could have a picture of it. My only complaint is that the powerlines get in the way. I wish they could have made them underground powerlines.

[goodbye]

That has always been one of the most beautiful views in Greenville. I remember when there wasn't nearly as many lights visible out on both sides of Pelham Road from that ridge. B)

[gs3]

Noticed the last few days that along with the starting of the Max Heller Gateway, they are also in the process of the replacing the trees in the median of 385 that died in planting, and also in the process of starting the landscaping along both sides. A couple of years for all the plantings to mature and the 385 drive into town will be a green parkway!

[whitehourseview]

Are these trees irrigated? Seems odd to be planting trees in May...

[g-man430]

Yes, they are irrigated. They have underground automatic sprinkler systems. The reason they are planting them in May is because they are replacing the ones that died and they wanted to get it done as soon as possible.

[goodbye]

They waited a long time, but it was necessary to replace them. I lost count after about a dozen dead ones.

[g-man430]

Noticed driving on I-385 yesterday, the plantings are starting to go in along the Max Heller gateway.

[RestedTraveler]

Noticed driving on I-385 yesterday, the plantings are starting to go in along the Max Heller gateway.

And you didn't take a photo? I'm Jonesin' to see what this gateway is going to be like. Thanks for the heads-up, g-man!

[g-man430]

I was going to take a pic on the way back home, but it was night time. What they have done so far is put bushes on the sides of the Hillside Drive bridge. According to the blue prints I have of the I-385 landscaping project, the Max Heller gateway will feature Japanese Cherry bushes with Parson Juniper's on the sides of the bridge. There will also be some Red Maple's, Compact Juniper's, Abelia, Brown Magnolia, Willow Oaks, and Eastern White Pines too. I'll try to scan the copy of my blueprints that I have of this area and put them on here later.

[g-man430]

Here is the blueprint of the Max Heller gateway:

(going down the page is heading north or west into downtown and going up the page is heading south or east towards I-85; the bridge heading over the interstate is Hillside Drive)

PY-Japanese Cherry

JDE-Parsons Juniper

HEM-Chicago Sunrise Daylily

AG-Abelia

MG-Bracken Brown Magnolia

PE-Fountain Grass

JCNC-Nick's Compact Juniper

PN-Austrian Pine

AR-October Glory Red Maple

QP-Willow Oak

LI-Crape Myrtle

BD-Butterfly Bush

PEH-Dwarf Fountain Grass

PS-Eastern White Pine

EAN-Winged Euonymus

RI-India Hawthorn

JF-Winter Jasmine

[RestedTraveler]

Awesome! Thanks, g-man!

I was holding out hope that there'd also be some sort of signage/sculpture at the gateway, but the blueprint seems to convey that it's only going to be landscaping. Oh well...maybe at some future date... Still very nice!

[g-man430]

Basically it looks similar to this all along I-385 from I-85 to downtown, so when it's complete, it will look really nice.

[goodbye]

They've already planted most - if not all - of the Junipers. Thanks for the pic, g-man430!