Recommendations, Procedures, and Guidelines for the Protection of Trees and Sensitive Landforms

Roadways are frequently widened to accommodate increased traffic loads in urban areas. In some cases, the widening will threaten existing trees that may have been planted as part of previous landscape projects or trees associated with historical sites. Roadway widening in rural areas (and sometimes urban) may threaten landscape features (landforms) that may be considered sensitive in nature due to one or more environmental or aesthetic characteristics. This report identifies the issues that affect tree and landform preservation and protection, and recommends standards and a new specification procedure as part of a tree protection program for the Texas Department of Transportation. The report includes a set of guidelines that explain the standards.