Tree Care at the University of Washington
Montlake Pruning

Tree pruning on Montlake Boulevard

Trees adjacent to major traffic routes require regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure that they are healthy and do not have limbs which could fall into the road. There are numerous trees along the west side of Montlake Boulevard which have not been pruned in several years. The University has engaged a private contractor to prune and inspect the trees along this corridor.

Some of the trees are poplars, which were planted at regular intervals along Montlake Boulevard, while others are bigleaf maple volunteers, which have grown from seed or root suckers. Many of these trees require pruning to remove dead or hazardous branches that extend over at least one heavily-used lane of traffic on Montlake Blvd.

A few of the volunteer trees have very poor structure or have grown in unsuitable locations and should be removed. The tops of these trees are growing horizontally over the road to reach sunlight. As they grow larger and heavier, the risk of branch failure will increase. There are seven trees under ten inches in diameter and less than thirty feet tall that will be removed. The poplars will need maintenance approximately every 5 years, but future pruning will require less work.

This project will take place Sunday, November 5, 2006 from 7 am to 4 pm and will require the closure of the right lane of traffic on Montlake Boulevard southbound while the contractors work. If it takes more than one day, subsequent dates will be posted. All lane closures will take place on Sundays to minimize traffic delays. Signs will be posted on Montlake Blvd at least 3 days before the scheduled work to notify drivers. The contractor will obtain all the necessary permits for the lane closure and tree work from the Seattle Department of Transportation.

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