Augusta road work puts state champion tree on chopping block

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – “X” is marking the spot for dozens of trees on Telfair Street.

The trees are in the way of road work and are scheduled to be removed.

“There’s several reasons why a tree has been slated for removal it’s either physically in the way of a future improvement or it’s near a future improvement,” said Augusta Traffic Engineer John Ussery.

Augusta Tree Commission Chair Roy Simkins doesn’t like a future without all these big, old, trees on Telfair.

“The design engineer did the people who live down here and the city of Augusta generally a great disservice by marking all of these trees for removal,” said Simkins.

Especially one Crepe Myrtle, which due to its age and size has been designated a state champion by the Georgia Forestry Commission, there are handmade signs on it saying leave it alone.

“It’s such a magnificent tree and such a great part of the history of this town and to just come in here and arbitrarily cut it down,” said Simkins.

The show of support for the state champion Crepe Myrtle and another ancient one next to it has reached the ears of Augusta Engineers.

“We have called in our landscape architect and his team to take another look at some of those trees through there to see if there is any way we may be able to save them,” said Ussery.

But as of right now, it’s still out with the old for some of the biggest trees on Telfair Street.

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