Tree operations can only take place between Oct. 1-April 14 each year, due to bat species restrictions. Contractors have throughout the season to complete this work. Contracted crews will remove the trees in the clear zone in each project, then come through to remove debris from the entire project. Then yard restoration will take place.
This website provides helpful information about this process. Click a link to jump to a section.
Federal Aid Safety Grant projects:
- Bedford Township: Primary road Uldriks Road in Bedford between Cardinal and Meachum
- Burlington Township: Local road M Drive S in between Oak Grove Rd and Union City Rd/7 Mile Rd
- Clarence and Lee Townships: Local road T Drive North in between 23 Mile Rd to Monroe Rd, on the west side of Duck Lake
These projects were awarded in 2021 for completion in 2023-2024. Successful projects demonstrate a recent crash history with fatal or incapacitating accidents due to trees just outside of the roadway. 90% of the cost of the project is covered by the grant; CCRD only has to match 10%.
Projects to prepare for upcoming primary road work:
- Emmett Township: S Wattles Road from Historic Bridge Park to B Drive N where it dead ends
- Emmett Township: N Wattles from Verona to Michigan Ave
- Athens Township: R Drive S from the West County Line Road to 1 ½ Mile
These projects precede federally-funded road construction that will take place in 2024.
Click here for initial information about the Wattles Road projects. More information about those road projects will be released at the beginning of next year.
Homeowners who live on the road where the Tree Removal project is taking place have received a flyer and form in the mail asking whether they would like to keep the lumber that is taken down on their property. Homeowners can fill out and mail in the paper form or complete this form, below. This is only available for those who live in the project area.
Why are trees removed by the Calhoun County Road Department?
Usually for one of two reasons:
- Federal Aid Safety Grant projects were awarded in 2021 for completion in 2023-2024. Successful projects demonstrate a recent crash history with fatal or incapacitating accidents due to trees just outside of the roadway. Data shows that removing objects from the "clear zone" just off the roadway reduces fatalities by 75%.
Federal Aid Safety Grants pay for 90% of the cost of the project; CCRD’s cost share is 10%.
- Preparing for Construction Projects. Tree trimming is necessary in preparation for federally-funded road construction that will take place in 2024. More information about those road projects will be released at the beginning of next year. Trees are typically removed in areas where the road will be widened.
Costs for tree removal for these federal-aid projects are included in the federal grant budget and the Road Department’s budget for our required match.
When will debris be removed after the trees are cut?
Contractors will complete tree removal for the entire project scope before going back to pick up debris from each road. There may be a time lag between tree cutting and debris removal. Then, after removing debris (or leaving it if the homeowner requests the wood), yard restoration will take place. Yard restoration typically entails putting down grass seed in the area that was disrupted by the tree removal initiative.
Does the Road Department care about the environment?
Yes. Road agencies balance care for the environment with opportunities to make the roadway and "clear zone" just off the roadway as safe as possible for the traveling public. Ensuring the safety of drivers is a paramount priority for the Calhoun County Road Department. Decisions about where to remove trees are made based on federal standards—there must be data demonstrating fatal or incapacitating crashes on that road in the five years prior to application for grant funding that allows us to address unsafe areas.
The Road Department and its contractors also must adhere to bat species restrictions that prevent tree removal outside of the designated window for tree work, which is Oct. 1-April 14. This protects the endangered bat species in our area.
When will tree removals take place?
Contractors have until April 14 to complete the identified projects for this fall and winter season. We anticipate tree removal will begin in November and continue into spring 2024.
What is the "clear zone"?
The clear zone is the area beyond the paved roadway where a vehicle that strays off the road might be able to recover and return to the travelway if it does not encounter obstacles during the recovery maneuver. The minimum width is 10 feet but can be wider based on traffic volume, car speed, curvature, and even slope of the road. Fixed objects in the clear zone represent hazards to motorists.
Text Size
