As the state Department of Transportation is in over its head with a major budget crunch, some Georgia motorists are in over their heads, too, literally… with grass. The Georgia DOT has reduced highway cleanup this year due to tight funds. In the past crews cut the grass on state highways four times a year. But lately the DOT’s budget is the only thing getting cut.

Mike Thomas manages highway beautification for the DOT.

“This year we plan on doing two mowing cycles. We’re going to try not to do that third but what we’re going to do on both the state route and the interstate mowing is try to supplement that with chemical mowing which retards the growth and hope that that would get us through.”

Thomas says the DOT is getting some help from city and county crews which have signed mowing agreements with the department. Adopt-a-Highway groups have also helped with picking up roadside trash.

Tags: Georgia, Atlanta, budget cuts, DOT, highway beautification, grass, weeds, Adopt-a-Highway