EAST LANSING, Mich. — Community members are advised that tree removal will begin on Thursday, March 7 along Michigan Avenue for the Infrastructure Restructure project.
To accommodate the construction of new, much-needed underground sewers in the area, while also maintaining traffic to the fullest extent possible, it will be necessary to remove approximately 30 trees located in the median of Michigan Avenue. City staff has worked closely with the Michigan Department of Transportation to preserve as many of the trees as possible (approximately 30 will remain) and all of the trees that are removed will be replaced as a part of the site restoration at the completion of the project.
The trees need to be removed by no later than March 31, as Indiana and Northern Long-Eared bats (federally-protected endangered and threatened species) will be returning to the area in April and will be nesting in community trees.
The Infrastructure Restructure project will result in critical underground infrastructure improvements along Michigan Avenue, from Harrison Road to Highland Avenue; at the Michigan-Harrison intersection; and along some local streets in the area. Additional project details can be found here: www.cityofeastlansing.com/infrastructurerestructure.