Houston, TX - Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make Kingwood area residents aware Houston Urban Forestry will be starting a Kudzu Vine Removal Pilot Program tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21, and a Dangerous Tree Removal Project on Wednesday, October 28, weather permitting. Construction activities for both projects are expected to take place during the week. The combined total cost of these projects is $85,178 and funds are provided through Mayor Pro Tem Martin's Council District Service Funds. These projects were originally scheduled to begin in the Spring but were severely delayed due to the ongoing pandemic.
The purpose of the Kudzu Vine Removal Pilot Program is to assess the removal of vines using a test location along Northpark Drive from Woodland Hills to W Lake Houston Pkwy. Crews will be mobilized on site beginning Wednesday, October 21 and the pilot program is anticipated to be completed by Saturday, October 31, weather permitting. The Kudzu Vine (Pueraria montana) is considered an invasive species in the South especially damaging towards trees. If the pilot program is successful and cost effective, additional locations in the Kingwood area will be evaluated and identified.
Earlier this year, Houston Urban Forestry identified trees for removal, based upon danger and declining health, along the major thoroughfares in Kingwood. The Dangerous Tree Removal Program will occur in phases along W Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood Drive, and Northpark Drive. Starting Wednesday, October 28, Urban Forestry will tag all trees along W Lake Houston Parkway with orange "X" markings for removal.
Tree removal is anticipated to begin on Monday, November 2, and be completed by Tuesday, June 1, 2021, weather permitting. The trees being marked for removal are dead, extremely unhealthy, and/or the most dangerous. The same tagging and marking will also occur on Kingwood and Northpark Drive once W Lake Houston Parkway is completed. Work order(s) will then be generated by block then issued to the City's contractor, Prime Trees, to schedule removal of the dead and most dangerous trees.
As a result of the construction activities, please be aware of flagmen and orange traffic cones that will be put in place on site to help with traffic flow through the construction zone as the project will require one lane closure. Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times. Businesses and residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times, and may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment in the area.
