Update on the Water Main Replacement - The Tree Cutting Edition

 As most readers surely know, the City is currently laying down massive black pipes along large sections of West Main Street in an effort to replace the aging water main infrastructure. The work started at the intersection of Main and Rutherford and has since jumped over Ninth Street, extending all along the East Campus Wall of Duke toward North Buchanan boulevard.


What may be less obvious to a casual observer is the ham-handed way the City handled old-growth oaks growing alongside the sidewalk that runs between the street and East Campus Wall. By my count, at least three massive 100+ year old oaks have been unceremoniously cut down for no particular reason.On the map below, I have noted the approximate locations of the trees in question.

Here is how the road looked like "before" the City went on its tree-cutting binge


View Larger Map

This is, frankly, very disheartening. Just a few days ago, I wrote about the value of urban canopy to our City and the direct economic, environmental, and aesthetic benefit that it brings. To my untrained eye, there did not appear to be any particular reason for cutting these trees down. Neither the sidewalk nor the curb were disturbed by the digging equipment. Furthermore, despite years of "pruning" by Duke Power - another well known adversary of mature trees in the city -- the trees looked healthy and provided welcome shade to the pedestrians and motorists alike traveling along West Main to Downtown and back.

Perhaps there was some other reason for cutting these trees down, but I strain to understand what it was and wonder if the City could have tried harder to keep these beautiful old trees rather than cutting them down for no apparent reason. I have reached out to Alex Johnson, the Head of Durham's Urban Forestry Division, but have yet to get an answer. I suggest you write to him as well. If he responds to you, please feel free to share it in the comments.