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SDOT tree crews prune hundreds of trees on NE 125th St

 

Trees frame our streets

Tree-lined streets add beauty to our city, but, like other SDOT assets, require periodic maintenance.  For the Urban Forestry tree crew, routine maintenance means pruning.  The tree crew recently pruned hundreds of ash trees on NE 125th Street, from I5 to 35th Ave NE.  Pruning protects vehicles and pedestrians from low-hanging or broken branches, and protects trees from damage caused by vehicle collisions.  According to the Seattle Municipal Code, trees must be pruned fourteen feet over the roadway and eight feet over the sidewalk.  Tree trimmers also prune branches away from street lights and buildings, and remove dead, broken, hanging or structurally unsound tree limbs.  Trimmers use lift trucks or ropes and climbing harnesses to access the trees.  Pruning trees on arterials can be challenging, requiring lane closures and sometimes complicated traffic setups; tree crews work closely with the SDOT Safety Office to ensure a safe worksite.    

A tree in need of pruning

Traffic setup-preparing for pruning