Why paint a concrete barrier on highway overpass to look like bricks? (construction, money)

[FoosBall]

On my commute, I cross a highway overpass just before turning onto the highway. The highway overpass has had concrete barriers (and fencing to prevent pedestrians from throwing huge rocks at cars below). Over the last few days, there were a couple painters out there. They paint brushed the concrete barrier to look like it is made of brick construction. They finished yesterday. Looks convincing, from a distance. Why did they spending days of labor on this?

It's not an artsy area, and the paint job didn't add any aesthetics. Just looks like brick. 99.99% of the commuters won't even notice it. Only the pedestrians will see with an up close view. Is it a graffiti prevention technique? A graffiti vandal could still paint on top of the brick painting, and that would ruin the brick pattern. The city could erase the graffiti, but then have to re-detail the brick pattern again.

[Hemlock140]

usually that sort of work is in response to multiple complaints of ugliness by neighbors, or one complaint by a local politician who passes by there every day. It will, however, make it less desirable as a target for graffiti, since they would have to waste paint on a solid background first, or their work would not be very distinguishable on the brick pattern.

[MidValleyDad]

Boondogle to create a contract for a political supporter of the politician who supported the project

[luv4horses]

I like the improvement offered by such painting. It softens the look and makes the wall less reflective when the sun shines at a certain angle. That improves your vision by cutting down the high contrast at those time of day.

[FoosBall]

These barriers run east to west (sun doesn't reflect off of them).

The pork barrel explanation makes a lot of sense.

[Al G]

Waste of your tax payer money.