A 350-400 ton live oak tree that is over 150 years old is moved West on Louisiana Hig
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wakes12002
ArboristSite Lurker
now that looks like a lot of work :msp_ohmy:
banshee67
Poulan Wild Thang
seems like a lot of work to save a tree
do you think it could really weigh 700,000-800,000 pounds though?
or is most of that weight in the rootball/dirt
Johndirt82
ArboristSite Operative
How to haul firewood the hard way
May 18, 2011
NEW IBERIA, La. — A massive live oak has been moved from its home of more than a century to a new site at the La. 83 exit ramp off U.S. 90 near New Iberia.
The tree was in the path of a new U.S. 90 service road, and the state Department of Transportation and Development, at the urging of local tree enthusiasts, decided to spare the oak rather than fell it.
U.S. 90 was shut down for about two hours Tuesday while crews used a special trailer to slowly haul the tree and its 42-foot diameter root ball about 1 1/2 miles, from its old home near Freyou Road to the La. 83 site.
"The tree hasn't missed a beat," said Jonathan Judice, with tree-moving specialist Environmental Design, of Houston.
DOTD is paying the company about $300,000 for transplanting the oak, which is estimated to be about 150 years old.
Judice said that preparations for transplanting began last month with a regular watering schedule to prepare the tree to be uprooted and moved.
Workers dug a large circle around the oak, pruned its roots and then wrapped the root ball in plastic, burlap and wire.
Large pipes were pushed under the root ball to create a metal floor so jacks could lift the 880,000-pound load to allow the trailer to slide underneath.
Judice said the trailer used to transport the tree has 192 wheels and is more commonly used for moving ships and other large industrial loads.
On Tuesday afternoon, the oak sat atop the trailer while workers prepared to lower it to the ground.
Judice said no new hole would be dug, but rather the tree will be placed on top of the ground and dirt from where it was removed will be piled around the root ball.
The work should be complete by Thursday, he said, and a water well has been drilled on the site to feed an automatic irrigation system for the oak, known locally as "Mr. Al."
He said the company will monitor the tree over the next three years, providing pest control and other care as needed.
Judice said Environmental Design has moved trees of similar size.
"We have above a 95 percent survival rate," he said.
Before the move, the oak had been a roadblock for the new U.S. 90 service road, which came to an abrupt end on both sides of the tree.
DOTD Acadiana regional engineer Bill Oliver has said that work to fill in the gap where the tree had stood should be completed by the end of summer.
The transplanting of the oak tree on U.S. 90 comes after a nearby road project in Youngsville was altered to spare a live oak that was set to be cut down for the straightening of La. 92.
NEW IBERIA, La. — A massive live oak has been moved from its home of more than a century to a new site at the La. 83 exit ramp off U.S. 90 near New Iberia.
The tree was in the path of a new U.S. 90 service road, and the state Department of Transportation and Development, at the urging of local tree enthusiasts, decided to spare the oak rather than fell it.
U.S. 90 was shut down for about two hours Tuesday while crews used a special trailer to slowly haul the tree and its 42-foot diameter root ball about 1 1/2 miles, from its old home near Freyou Road to the La. 83 site.
"The tree hasn't missed a beat," said Jonathan Judice, with tree-moving specialist Environmental Design, of Houston.
DOTD is paying the company about $300,000 for transplanting the oak, which is estimated to be about 150 years old.
Judice said that preparations for transplanting began last month with a regular watering schedule to prepare the tree to be uprooted and moved.
Workers dug a large circle around the oak, pruned its roots and then wrapped the root ball in plastic, burlap and wire.
Large pipes were pushed under the root ball to create a metal floor so jacks could lift the 880,000-pound load to allow the trailer to slide underneath.
Judice said the trailer used to transport the tree has 192 wheels and is more commonly used for moving ships and other large industrial loads.
On Tuesday afternoon, the oak sat atop the trailer while workers prepared to lower it to the ground.
Judice said no new hole would be dug, but rather the tree will be placed on top of the ground and dirt from where it was removed will be piled around the root ball.
The work should be complete by Thursday, he said, and a water well has been drilled on the site to feed an automatic irrigation system for the oak, known locally as "Mr. Al."
He said the company will monitor the tree over the next three years, providing pest control and other care as needed.
Judice said Environmental Design has moved trees of similar size.
"We have above a 95 percent survival rate," he said.
Before the move, the oak had been a roadblock for the new U.S. 90 service road, which came to an abrupt end on both sides of the tree.
DOTD Acadiana regional engineer Bill Oliver has said that work to fill in the gap where the tree had stood should be completed by the end of summer.
The transplanting of the oak tree on U.S. 90 comes after a nearby road project in Youngsville was altered to spare a live oak that was set to be cut down for the straightening of La. 92.
dingeryote
Blueberry Baron
Part of me appreciates the hell outta keeping that tree alive and transplanted.
Old Live Oaks are something to be cherished.
On the other hand, 300K to save a single tree?
Can't help but think that altering the road a bit woulda been cheaper, and dropping the thing cheaper yet.
I'd turn it into some really nice furniture myself, then plant a dozen replacements.
The process of transplanting the thing is fascinating.
Stay safe!
Dingeryote
Old Live Oaks are something to be cherished.
On the other hand, 300K to save a single tree?
Can't help but think that altering the road a bit woulda been cheaper, and dropping the thing cheaper yet.
I'd turn it into some really nice furniture myself, then plant a dozen replacements.
The process of transplanting the thing is fascinating.
Stay safe!
Dingeryote
David (saltas)
Addicted to ArboristSite
for what its worth it was cheaper to move the tree than build the road around it
I was told that in the late 80's a small country road; single lane each way on flat ground road was $1000 every three feet. The tree cost 900 feet of road, US 90 sounds like a highway to me so if that section was 2 lanes each way then your only talking 200 feet of road and I'm sure roads cost a lot more these days
I was told that in the late 80's a small country road; single lane each way on flat ground road was $1000 every three feet. The tree cost 900 feet of road, US 90 sounds like a highway to me so if that section was 2 lanes each way then your only talking 200 feet of road and I'm sure roads cost a lot more these days
This way you only have to cut what you need at the time, kind of like the one-legged pig story.
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