<p>Dillon Tree Services of Shrewsbury were at work this week removing a large number of trees along Edgartown-West Tisbury Road that Mass DOT said were a safety hazard for drivers.</p>
Dillon Tree Services of Shrewsbury were at work this week removing a large number of trees along Edgartown-West Tisbury Road that the state Department of Transportation said were a safety hazard for drivers.
Orange dots marked the trees that had to go.
Orange dots marked the trees that had to go.
Dozens of trees had been tagged with orange dots for removal, all on the south side of the road. By Wednesday only about 10 remained, with work apparently delayed by the rain.
“MassDOT will be removing approximately 37 trees which are unhealthy or which are now growing too close to the roadway for driver safety,” communications director Jacquelyn Goddard said in an email on Monday. “No other tree removals are planned on Martha’s Vineyard by MassDOT for the near future.”
Edgartown tree warden Stuart Fuller said the town had received prior notification from the state, but that no public process was required. “They’ve got their regulations that they try to adhere to,” he said. “Hopefully they would be sensitive to the Island’s desire for the rural character to be maintained.” He added that many oak trees in Edgartown have been removed after suffering damage from gall wasps.
Dillon Tree Services of Shrewsbury did the work.
Dillon Tree Services of Shrewsbury did the work.
All the trees will be removed and the stumps cut flush with the ground. The trees themselves become the property of the contractor.
“The contract calls for restoring safe and adequate sight distance, as well as removing any dead and/or diseased trees that may present a falling hazard into the roadway,” Ms. Goddard said. “We will review with staff and contractor to insure that there is no overcutting or unnecessary tree removal/trimming in this area.”
She hoped the work would be finished this week.
Mr. Fuller said between 30 and 35 miles of road on the Island are owned and maintained by the state. The DOT does regular cleanup work in the fall, followed by the removal of dead or diseased trees in the spring.
Comments
I don't understand why there
Jim EdgartownI don't understand why there is constant tree work on our roads. When they are trimming/cutting why don't they trim eneogh back from the road, telephone poles electric lines etc........ it is just not cost effective to have this going on constantly year after year.
Who actually tags the trees?
Joan Malkin ChilmarkWho actually tags the trees? The State or the contractor? That might have a bearing on how many trees are tagged. And who interprets the rules as to whether a tree needs to be removed. Ditto. It's all a crying shame. The wider vista, the faster the traffic speeds along. How many years before new trees, if any, grow back.
Its called state work........
Clay EdgIts called state work........ Tax payers pick u the tab ....nobody cares a total disgrace.
They could easily cut, prune trees etc.. off are road ways and do it every 5 years instead we do it two times a year.$$$$$$$$
I've commuted that route
Commuter the back roadI've commuted that route twice a day for nearly two decades. Yes...the red dots on the marked trees looked alarming and I was convinced it was going to be a disaster. Now that a good part of the cutting is done, it looks fine - hardly noticable, and it's probably safer. Relax people!
The Island has become so over
BFThe Island has become so over grown with trees.
The beautiful, wide expanses,such as the Great Plains, are no longer recognizable as such.
Stunted pine and scrubby cedars are ugly!
We need more tree cutting to restore our once cherished open spaces.
Clearing trees along the
Brittany Moore USAClearing trees along the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road is a necessary action to prevent road hazards and ensure safe travel for motorists. However, it is important to balance road safety with preserving natural resources and minimizing the impact on the environment. See more details from <a href="https://www.metcalftree.com/treepruning.html">Tree Pruning Charlottesville</a>.
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