3/16/01

Bob Lowry

AU TO REPLACE TREES REMOVED FROM CAMPUS BY POWER COMPANY

AUBURN -- Alabama Power Co. on Monday (March 19) will remove nine unsightly trees on the Auburn University campus that have become hazardous to pedestrians and motor vehicles, says Charles Crawford, superintendent of AU's Landscape Services.

The trees along Donahue Drive, which were planted in the 1950s, were severely damaged by an Alabama Power trimming contractor more than 10 years ago, says Crawford.

Since then, Alabama Power has trimmed tree growth every three or four years to keep them from touching high-voltage lines, leaving the trees in an unsightly and unsafe condition, says Crawford.

"It's been a continuous problem," he said. "You can't let them grow because the sucker branches can easily break off and hurt people and cars underneath. Plus, they're just unsightly."

The trees between Thach Avenue and Roosevelt Drive were scheduled to be removed as part of parking lot construction, Crawford said. Alabama Power offered to pay for the removal.

Once the construction of the parking lot is completed, Crawford said the university will plant about 50 October Glory Maple trees along Donahue, Roosevelt and in the median strips of the parking lot. "This is just a fabulous fall color tree," he says. "We think it's appropriate that the leaves will be orange in the fall."

Crawford said the new maples when they mature will not interfere with the power lines. The October Glory Maple tree typically grows to a height of about 35 to 40 feet, while the power lines are about 45 to 50 feet high.

mar01:trees