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Mower Safety Behind New I-4 Trees

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By DAVE NICHOLSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2007

PLANT CITY - Motorists traveling on Interstate 4 may have wondered why crews are planting trees on the south side of the highway near the Branch Forbes Road interchange.

The Florida Department of Transportation contracted with a Homestead company to plant the trees to eliminate a maintenance problem there, DOT spokeswoman Kris Carson said.

In an e-mail, Carson wrote that there is a steep slope at that location, and water seeps in from natural sources and an adjoining farm field. The combination of the steep grade and wet conditions can make mowing difficult and sometimes dangerous.

Mowers won't have to venture up the slope now that trees are replacing the sod, she wrote.

The variety of trees being planted on the slope are primarily wetland natives such as bald cypress, red maple, sweet gum, Florida elm and tulip poplar.

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