Moving trees to a new home along the I-205 Multi-Use Path

I-205 Multi-Use Path Planting
I-205 Multi-Use Path Planting (Chijo Takeda)

By Logan Lauvray

The Oregon Department of Transportation is in the design phase of the Airport Way Interchange project, which includes the construction of a new on-ramp to connect westbound NE Airport Way to the northbound lanes of the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge.

Although this project will ultimately reduce traffic congestion on NE Airport Way near the freeway and at adjacent shopping centers, there is one unfortunate consequence: the 140 trees that Friends of Trees planted in January 2010 just north of Airport Way need to be moved to a new location.

ODOT personnel involved with the I-205 Multi-Use Path planting efforts became aware of the Interchange project shortly after our January 2010 planting and informed Friends of Trees at that time. However, since the trees had been planted so recently, we decided to leave them in the ground for a year and to move them during the winter of 2011. 

Though it’s unfortunate that the trees must be moved, the time, dedication and effort that Friends of Trees volunteers gave were not in vain. Not only will ODOT pot the trees and move them to a greenhouse until a new planting site along the I-205 Multi-Use Path is ready for them, but ODOT will also provide 140 additional new trees for the I-205 Multi-Use Path. In the end, there will be more trees along the path than were originally planted. 

Since learning about the Airport Way Interchange project early last year, Friends of Trees and ODOT have made every effort to avoid planting in areas where construction projects might be planned. Examples of this include postponing planting in Clackamas County until new lighting improvements have been completed and holding off planting near the potential Division Street undercrossing. 

Friends of Trees looks forward to continuing our successful partnership with ODOT, Metro, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, and others to green the I-205 Multi-Use Path. We are confident that the new forest we plant today will have a positive impact on the corridor for generations to come. 

For additional information on the Airport Way Interchange Project please see the ODOT website at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/airportway/.

–Lauvray is Green Space Manager for Friends of Trees.