Freeway art cover-up

Q. As I drive on the 5 freeway, I see the flower art tiles displayed on the freeway walls. I remember reading about the cost for these tiles - it was in the millions. It really bothers me to see that these tiles are now covered by weeds on the 5 freeway south, before the Main Street Broadway exit, and starting on the Culver Drive exit continuing to the Jeffrey Road exit. I am sure there are more areas. Who do I call? Caltrans? - Georgina Alvarez, Anaheim Hills A. Caltrans paid nearly $1 million in federal grant money several years ago to turn portions of Orange County freeways into fleeting Guggenheims for drivers; The agency installed about 2,400 tiles for about $250 each. MICHAE L MELLO The art was placed in areas where no landscaping is possible because the entire area has been paved over. Tiles found homes along 1-5 in Santa Ana, where some have melted, apparently destroyed by a car engine fire. Others near the Broadway exit have been covered up by ivy or some other sort of creeping vinemost likely the "weeds" you're referring to, Georgina. In this case, the vibrant vines appear to be coming from private properly on the other side of the freeway's sound walls - probably somebody's back yard. When that happens, Caltrans will contact the property owner or the city in question to get the vegetation trimmed, Caltrans spokesman Alex Valdez said. "We'll contact them and work with them. Usually it's not a problem; we work things out, and everyone's happy," Valdez said. "We try to keep things manicured so drivers can see the panels as they go by. We take a lot a pride in our landscaping in this district." If weeds do pop up here and there, Valdez said residents can call the local Caltrans public affairs office at 949-724- 2000 or call the Transportation Management Center at 949-936-3600. Incidentally, Orange County artist Janet Inez Adams created four different depictions of flowers - three of them of wildflowers native to Orange County -- for the panels. Now to climb on the soapbox: Those of you who smoke in your vehicles, please, please keep your butts (both of them) in the car. I've noticed a spate of people using local intersections as their ash trays. Not only is it just plain Tong (butts do not disintegrate easily, and can get washed from the streets into local streams and rivers), it's illegal. California Vehicle Code 23111 prohibits "throwing from or upon any road ... any cigarette, cigar, match or other flaming or glowing substance." Base fines start at $100, but other fees the state makes the courts tack on mean that number is likely to double, if not end up being even more.