The American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania recently recognized Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Pollinator Habitat Pilot Project with the Diamond Award in Environmental Engineering, writes Steve Marroni for the Stories from the Turnpike.

The program, which was implemented in partnership with McCormack Taylor, created valuable habitats for bees, moths, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.

“It’s very nice to be receiving this award,” said Turnpike Stormwater Management Specialist Jim Kaiser, who is leading the project. “It shows the trend of where the Turnpike is going toward becoming America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040.”

The award recognizes efforts to preserve the Keystone State’s beauty while benefiting the environment at the same time.

The pollinator project started in 2022 with crews planting native flowering plant seeds at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Central Office’s lawn and several other areas along the Turnpike. These areas have blossomed into lush spots of colorful flowers and useful greenery, all of which are ideal for pollinators to live in.

The locations where pollinator habitats have been established include Hickory Run Service Plaza, Sidling Hill Salt Shed, and Harrisburg West, Bensalem, and Irwin interchanges.

In the future, the program will be implemented at the Western Regional Office and Allentown Service Plaza.

Read more about the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Pollinator Habitat Pilot Project winning the Diamond Award in Environmental Engineering at Stories from the Turnpike.