Residents angry after dozens of trees removed along Interstate 5
Glendale residents near Interstate 5 at Western Avenue were dismayed this week to see dozens of 30-foot-tall trees ripped out to make room for carpool lanes.
Jocelyn Perez, who lives 50 feet from the southbound ramp on Justin Avenue, said she and her neighbors had no idea the trees were scheduled for removal.
"It is really bad on my side," Perez said. "My son has asthma. I barely take him outside."
California Department of Transportation officials said that the project has been in the works for years, and that it met all of the environmental review requirements. The project, including replacement landscaping, is scheduled to be completed in summer 2014.
--Megan O'Neil, Glendale News-Press / Times Community News
Photo: Cut trees are loaded onto a truck for removal by Security Paving Co. from an area adjacent to the southbound 5 Freeway near Winchester Avenue and Lake Street in Glendale on Friday. The trees are being removed to widen the freeway for a carpool lane.
Credit: Raul Roa / Glendale News-Press
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Good thing they moved forward on this traffic solving issue before Glendale residents tried to deem the trees historic.
Posted by: LosAngelesNotLA | April 23, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Why would someone with a child suffering from asthma live next to I5?
Posted by: James Andrews | April 23, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Well it is sad they cut the trees down to begin with,
as we all know the traffic is horendice and the exhaust
is horrendice ,even with the clean burning cars,the
bason always has still air and we all breath it.
the trees are a good sorce of oxagin that we all need,
and to cut them all down for some ones buitifacation
project is truly absured !!
Posted by: Robert | April 23, 2011 at 02:54 PM
CalTrans does whatever they want, when they want, how they want it, without ANY State oversight. An investigation into CalTrans and how they actually operate would be an interesting and telling piece. Basically when it comes to any Highway or Road in this state that CalTrans has jurisdiction over they have complete and total control, inclusive of US Government property lines that pass along side of or through CalTrans Right of Ways. Basically the inmates ARE in charge of this Asylum and they want to keep it that way.
Posted by: imacobru | April 23, 2011 at 03:25 PM
Hey Cobra.....Caltrans is the STATE. I vote for widening highways and adding sound walls over trees every time.
Posted by: djack80 | April 23, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Fitting punishment for Glendale's opposition to the I-710 tunnel, which would reduce the traffic on I-5.
Posted by: IvanG | April 23, 2011 at 06:22 PM