I received this update about the Pipe Project work on Hayfield Road from Project Manager Dave Anglin on November 20. One additional tree will be removed and two will be pruned in the median strip nearest the Hayfield Pool along Hayfield Road. This work is necessary to install the storm system box culvert.
Initially, the contractor asked to remove three maples in the median strip closest to the pool – see attached marked up aerial photo. The reasons for the request are the limbs overhanging the road posing a work impediment and associated limb damage from the excavators. Dave Anglin asked two Fairfax County Landscape Architects – one of whom is an Arborist – to inspect the trees and assess the request with the goal being to save the three trees and limit any tree work to pruning, if possible. The only two circumstances to consider removing any tree are if it:
- Were already in decline or dead; or
- Would otherwise not survive the impact of the necessary excavation to install the box culvert.
Based on the Architect/Arborist assessment and recommendation, one tree will be removed but the other two will be preserved. The tree to be removed is shown in the attached photographs (photos are all of the same tree). This tree is in rather advanced decline and the community soon would be faced with removing it irrespective of this project. Given the poor health, it is very likely that any work close to the tree would further accelerate its death. The contractor (Garney) is required to preserve the other two maples. Garney will need to employ a professional arborist to prune the canopy limbs and to complete root pruning at a point just outside the limits of the box culvert excavation. As with the other trees removed, Fairfax County will ensure that the one removed tree will be will replaced at the project’s end.
Dave’s best guess is that this work will occur within the next few weeks, partly depending on weather of course; he will let me know once he has a better idea of when this tree work will occur.
Dave is very aware that landscaping is very important to the community and is notifying us to avoid surprising anyone. Further, in this case, this additional removal is in the best interest of all parties. Please see the four pictures with this update.
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