Drivers approaching the intersection of U.S. 31 and Main Street will notice the return of trees and shrubs to the median over the next few weeks.

A construction crew from Triple J Construction in Crane Hill has begun working on landscaping a 25-foot by 130-foot median on the north and the 25-foot by 170-foot median on the south of Hartselle’s main intersection.

Department of Development director Jeff Johnson said they would install 655 drought resistant plants in the medians. This includes 40 Tonto crepe myrtles, 125 Carissa Holly shrubs, 232 dwarf Yaupon shrubs, 237 Parsons Junipers and 28 white butterfly bushes.

“There’s no irrigation in these areas,” Johnson said. “So they will have to be drought resistant plants.”

In addition to the landscapes, the crews will install concrete nosings on each end of the medians to prevent motorists from damaging the landscaping if they clip the curb.

Johnson said the crews are beginning with removing the grass and a layer of poor soil so that appropriate topsoil can be installed prior to planting.

While no lane closures are planned, Johnson said he is asking motorists to be aware of the construction crews.

“I would ask driver to be careful in the work areas,” Johnson said. “Please make sure that you abide by any speed reductions in those work areas.”

The entire project is expected to cost $411,590, including $357,905 from the contract with Triple J Construction and $53,685 for ALDOT’s inspection services.

The city will be required to match 20 percent of the cost, which totals $82,318.

That total is under the $488,000 awarded for the grant.

The project calls for more than 1,600 plants to be installed at the Alabama 36 interchange and 4,000 plants on the Thompson Road interchange, which also included the removal of trees from the exit 325 ramps.