GDOT road crews are receiving backlash from statewide tree-clearing project

Across the state, Georgia road crews have been getting complaints regarding a statewide tree-clearing project.

State lawmaker Jason Spencer, a Republican from Woodbine, says his constituents are upset about the bare and swamp-like land left behind on some interstates and state highways. Little notice was given about the project, he said.

According to Spencer, he has received phone calls from his constituents asking why all the trees are being mowed down.

Officials with the Georgia Department of Transportation released earlier this week, that they are halfway through a two-year, statewide project involving safety and vegetation maintenance.

A major cause of deaths on state highways are the result of cars leaving roadways and striking trees.

GDOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale said that in the past three years, 472 people have died from hitting trees in Georgia.

She adds that this project will keep more trees from falling into roadways, and that managing trees by the road is in the public’s best interest.

According to Federal Highway Administration spokesman Doug Hecox, just because trees are aesthetically pleasing, doesn’t make them a safe choice.

Recently across the state of Florida, they enacted a similar plan, except they selectively removed trees, thereby leaving behind trees that are desirable and safe.

According to Florida’s state transportation landscape architect Jeff Caster, Florida’s approach was quite different from Georgia’s.

Caster explained that Florida’s approach was to prioritize and keep all the trees possible.

Georgia’s $62.5 million project covers about 2,200 miles.