KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Road Commission of Kalamazoo County has $25-million to spend to make rural roads safer, and that could mean fewer trees.
Operations director Travis Bartholomew says they get more complaints about downed trees than any other single issue, especially after the windstorm last month, which may take months to clean up.
He says the other three top complaint generators are potholes, winter maintenance and gravel roads.
Bartholomew says 31% of all crashes are caused by drivers running off the road, and 50% of those either cause deaths or serious injuries.
He says the safety improvements will be focused on 130 miles of their busiest roadways.
Beyond the safety program, they have now begun to trim trees to remove branches hanging over the pavement as a part of regular maintenance.
Bartholomew says a past practice of just using a chemical spray to slow tree growth over roadways to save money, has now left them with a lot of dead limbs, and dead trees that are now falling.
He told the Kalamazoo County board this week that residents who have concerns about roadside trees near their rural homes should give the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County a call, and they will take a look.
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