image:spacer top row
Overview
News
Community Involvement
CSS
Archived Meetings
Environmental
Documents
Right of Way
Site Map
Contact Us
Home
images:environmental mitigation:live oak trees IMPACT:

As part of the EIS process, a study has been conducted by a licensed arborist to evaluate the existing conditions of three live oak trees located along the proposed alignments and the effects the
image:decorative
construction of the Selected Alternative may have on the trees. Two Live Oak trees near the Sterling Grove Historic District and one tree near the Castille and existing Evangeline Thruway intersection were analyzed in the arborist’s study.

The study indicates that no negative impacts are expected to occur on the two trees near the Sterling Grove Historic District because the existing Evangeline Thruway is being relocated away from the trees, thus providing more green space within the drip line of the trees. It is expected that any of the alternatives of the proposed project including the Selected Alternative ultimately would benefit the two trees.

The Live Oak tree (Live Oak Tree No. 103) located in the median between the north and southbound lanes of Evangeline Thruway near its intersection with Castille Street is considered a heritage tree, as it is over one hundred years old and is in good to excellent condition. The design team has developed a modified design concept of the locally preferred alternative as presented in the Final EIS (Subalternative H) in order to provide an opportunity for the I-49 project to avoid this tree. A summary of the arborist’s report is provided in the Final EIS.

COMMITMENT:

The three Live Oak Trees studied during this EIS process will remain in place, including Live Oak Tree No. 103 located in the median near I-10 and Willow Street. Due to the close proximity of this tree to the proposed I-49 Connector freeway, LaDOTD will consider a design for the mainline and ramps near the tree to avoid and minimize secondary impacts. (See items 1 and 2 below.) In addition, LaDOTD will:

  • Develop tree protection plans and specifications designed by an ISA certified arborist and a registered landscape architect,
  • Provide for site supervision and construction obervation by ISA certified consulting arborist, and
  • Provide for post construction tree survey and damage assessment.
LaDOTD will implement design and construction techniques to minimize impacts to the root zone of Live oak Tree No. 103. Considerations to provide additional space and visual quality for Tree No. 103 may be provided by:

1. Reversing the locations of the re-aligned Evangeline Thruway and the proposed northbound entrance ramp so that the entrance ramp is to bhe east of Evangeline Thruway. This would provide unobstructed views of the tree from the ground level northbound Evangeline Thruway.

2. Shifting the I-49 mainline structures approximately 20-25 feet to the west. However, this may require additional right-of-way on the west side of the Evangeline Thruway southbound lanes.

STATUS:

See table below.

LIVE OAK TREES
Commitment/Mitigation TasksWhen to Occur*StatusDate CompletedLinks to Relevant Resources
image:spacer
Special design features to avoid Live Oak Tree No. 103P,FPreliminary design of I-49 entrance ramp near tree.N/AN/A
image:spacer
Design of tree protection plansFNo ActivityN/AN/A
image:spacer
Site supervision and construction observation by ISA arborist.CNo ActivityN/AN/A
image:spacer
Post construction tree survey and damage assessmentCNo ActivityN/AN/A
image:spacer
*Note: P = Preliminary Design Phase, F = Final Design Phase, C = Construction Phase



 image:spacer
image:spacer
image:right arrow Displacements
image:spacer
image:right arrow Historic Properties
image:spacer
image:right arrow Historic District
image:spacer
image:right arrow Historic Properties
image:spacer
image:right arrow Noise
image:spacer
image:right arrow Air Quality
image:spacer
image:right arrow Waste Sites
image:spacer
image:right arrow Water Quality
image:spacer
image:right arrow Chicot Aquifer
image:spacer
image:right arrow Lafayette Airport
image:spacer
image:right arrow Wetlands
image:spacer
image:right arrow Vermilion River
image:spacer
image:right arrow Parks
image:spacer
image:right arrow Live Oak Trees
image:spacer
image:right arrow Construction Debris
image:spacer
image:right arrow Signing & Traffic Control
image:spacer
image:right arrow Access & Circulation
image:spacer
image:right arrow Community Cohesion
image:spacer
image:right arrow Corridor Preservation
image:spacer
image:right arrow Facility Construction
image:spacer
image:right arrow Joint Use Development
image:spacer
image:right arrow Monitoring & Reporting
image:spacer
image:spacer image:spacer