Virginia to Remove Decaying Trees Near Site of Deadly Accident

Virginia transportation officials will remove two decaying white oak trees in Great Falls that are about 300 feet from a tree that fell onto a car in July, killing a motorist.

The oaks, located at the corner of Georgetown Pike and Walker Road in Great Falls will be removed by the Virginia Department of Transportation starting on Oct.1. 

Trees Please, a consultant arborist for VDOT, recommended the removal of the trees after conducting a risk assessment.

Both trees have significant decay, VDOT said in a news release. The tree closer to the intersection has a higher risk of collapsing due to "open wounds and the obvious decay" of about half its base. The other tree could live for several years but has indications of decline, VDOT said, including expanding decay pockets, dead branches in its crown and evidence of bark beetle.

These trees are in addition to the fifty-nine dead or dying trees the Department of Transportation removed last month in Great Falls.

The removal will take about three days and will cost $10,000. One lane on Walker Road and Georgetown Pike will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day of the process.
 

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