MnDOT To Remove Trees Along Hwy 55 As Part Of Trail Project In Golden Valley

Press release from the City of Golden Valley:

February 23, 2021

As part of MnDOT’s Hwy 55 Trail project, tree removal along the highway began today and will continue the rest of the week.

MnDOT is committed to following tree removal guidelines set by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to minimize potential impacts to northern long-eared bat habitats, a threatened species in Minnesota. The recommended timing for tree removal is Nov 1 to March 31 to avoid the time of year bats are raising their young. MnDOT is adhering to these timing guidelines to:

• conserve Minnesota’s bat and bird diversity,
• follow the regulations to protect the species under the Endangered Species Act,
• reduce the spread of invasive weeds and tree pests.

Trees that are removed are not mature and will be recycled and used for mulch and erosion control throughout the project area.

Trail construction is expected to begin July 2021 as part of MnDOT’s larger mill and overlay project on Hwy 55. For questions regarding this work, please contract R.J. Kakach, rkakach@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763.593.8043.

This press release was produced by the City of Golden Valley. The views expressed here are the author’s own.