The recent attention to ecology has led to many changes in road construction. One change has been in the emphasis on roadside planting or erosion control and highway beautification. In Colorado, many roads are being constructed with steep side slopes in both cuts and fills. These slopes are prone to both water and wind erosion, so it is important that vegetation be planted quickly to hold the topsoil in place. This not only makes the highway seem less of an incursion on the scenery, but also aids in the maintenance of roads, preventing culverts from being stopped up and aiding the drainage systems in working properly to prevent hazardous conditions to the people using the highway.
