  The $r$-fold edgewise subdivision is a well studied flag triangulation of the
simplex with interesting algebraic, combinatorial and geometric properties. An
important enumerative invariant, namely the local $h$-polynomial, of this
triangulation is computed and shown to be $\gamma$-nonnegative by providing
explicit combinatorial interpretations to the corresponding coefficients. A
construction of a flag triangulation of the seven-dimensional simplex whose
local $h$-polynomial is not real-rooted is also described.
