The Kansas Department of Transportation has established a pollinator habitat at the Montgomery County Rest Area at the intersection between U.S.. 169 and U.S.. 400. Thanks to a partnership with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, KDOT was awarded $65,000 toward the planting of over 125 acres of pollinator habitat across Kansas, with the work to be done over this summer and the summer of 2020. 

The actions come in the wake of declining bee and Monarch butterfly populations across the United States. The habitats include milkweed, native grasses and wildflowers to attract butterflies and bees to the area.

Other habitats will be established at the Linn County Rest Area, the I-35 and U.S. 59 interchange at Ottawa, and the I-35 and Homestead lane interchange in Johnson County.