In a wooded municipality like ours, maintaining trees along the roadsides is essential. Currently, you may notice pruning work taking place along some roads. While this intervention may temporarily affect the appearance, it remains crucial for our safety.
Pruning involves trimming certain trees, branches and other vegetation along the roadsides in order to:
- Protect road infrastructure
- Protects drainage systems by keeping ditches and culverts clear.
- Extend the lifespan of our roads and reduce long-term maintenance costs. Did you know that the current reconstruction cost is $1.5 million per kilometer?
- Prevents overgrowth from damaging guide rails, signs, culverts, and road shoulders.
- Protect power and communication lines by limiting branch damage during storms or high winds.
- Ensure road safety
- Improve visibility for drivers at curves, intersections and private driveways.
- Better sightlines for road signs and hazard warnings.
- Reduced wildlife collisions by allowing drivers to spot animals sooner.
- Enhanced pedestrian and cyclist safety where roadside use occurs.
- Facilitate road maintenance
- More efficient work planning: mechanical cutting covers greater distances in less time, representing significant savings for the municipality.
- Improved sunlight penetration, helping snow and ice melt faster on road surfaces in winter.
- Reduced snow drifting by cutting back windbreak shrubs that cause snowbanks on roads.
- Easier access for snow removal equipment without branches obstructing lanes.
- Facilitate emergency interventions
- Clearer access routes for ambulances, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles.
- Ensure worker safety
- Reduced need for manual cutting close to live traffic, lowering risk of accidents.
- Fewer chainsaw-related injuries thanks to mechanized equipment.
- Consistent safe distance between equipment operators and traffic lanes.
- Reduced exposure to hazardous plants (poison ivy, thorn bushes) and insects (ticks, wasps).
- Promote environmental protection
- Prevents invasive species spread by controlling problem plants before they seed.
- Supports pollinator habitats by opening up spaces for wildflowers.
What about the aesthetics?
We understand that the appearance of pruned trees can be surprising. However, please know that nature is resilient and regrowth is rapid. Trees generally regain a harmonious shape after one or two growing seasons. This short-term visual sacrifice is an essential step for our collective safety.
We thank you for your patience and understanding during this necessary work.