Traffic Delays Expected This Weekend on Old Lakeville During Tree Removal

Traffic delays are expected this weekend on Lakeville Highway between Old Lakeville Road #2 and #3 as the county works to remove about 20 eucalyptus trees from the roadway.

Crews will be out between 9am and 3pm on both days to clear trees that have cracked or broken limbs that could fall on passing motorists. This is especially true in high winds, according to Tom O'Kane, deputy director for Sonoma County Public Works.

"We identified the problem last winter, but work was put off in the spring and summer because birds were nesting in the trees," O'Kane said.

The county had originally planned to cut down all trees in the area, which date back to the early 1900s. But after residents of the area protested, the county decided to remove only those that posed a danger to passing cars. In 2005, a motorist was injured a tree limb fell on a car on Lakeville Highway. And in 2003, a driver died after they were crushed by a 30-foot tree near the Infineon Raceway.

The work is expected to continue until September 30 and Caltrans is urging drivers to use alternate routes.