MACON, Ga. — Middle Georgia State University worked with Macon-Bibb County on a recent project that helped make their Macon campus more visible.
"It's kind of an eyesore, you know driving down. It's like a bunch of trees," Middle Georgia State senior Rojean Sanders said.
She thinks the Middle Georgia State campus is beautiful, and she's happy others can now see what it looks like from the interstate.
"Now, when you drive down 475 it's almost like what was behind those trees, what were behind all those shrubs, and it was a hidden gem," she said.
The east side of MGSU's campus used to be covered by dirt piles and trees, which blocked the view from Interstate 475. By clearing it, Facilities Director Trey Crisp wanted to make the campus more visible to those passing by.
"The interstate on any given day of the week sees about 8,000 vehicles a day. That is just good availability to bring people onto campus," Crisp said.
The project was a trade-off with the county who was in need of fill dirt for other construction sites and landfill cover.
"The dirt alone would've cost them $58,000, give or take a little bit. We did not need the dirt, we have an excess of dirt out here right now, so it was a way to get some of the dirt off our hands," he said.
Now those passing by will have a clear view of everything Middle Georgia State has to offer.
"We have a couple of new construction buildings coming along, with the new enrollment center and what we already have with our new residence hall, we wanted to also show those and basically say come look at what we're doing," Crisp said.
"It's a lot here to see, and so now the community, anyone that's driving by is like, 'Oh what's that over there? Yeah it's a pretty nice university,'" Sanders said.
Crisp says they've planted hydro-seed where the dirt piles were which will eventually grow into turf.