Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
‘ Dangerous’ tree to be removed
CALN >> A tree, described as “dangerous” because it’s hanging on wires near a busy highway, will be removed.
A concerned area resident, referred to as JC, said he reached out to nine parties he thought could “possibly be responsible for removing a tree before it falls and hurts someone.” After expressing his concerns to several parties, the tree will be removed in the near future. Amtrak has not set a removal date yet, but after investigating the matter, it has agreed to remove the tree.
He made those phone calls because he has concerns about drivers in that area, and he is one of them. He described the tree as dangerous because it is “hanging over a busy highway in Thorndale and is ready to fall into the roadway.”
Initially unsure which party was responsible for the tree, JC
called nine different parties, including local township officials and elected officials. He had hoped that whichever party was responsible would “do the right thing” by removing the tree. He felt like he had received “so much resistance” regarding this matter because he noted that several other involved parties told him it was his assumption that the tree would fall. He then reached out to the local newspaper.
“I have been working on this matter off and on for a couple of months, I have more important things to do, but I am concerned about other people’s safety too, and even myself, I pass this tree several times a week,” JC explained.
The tree is located across from Del Toyota showroom which is at 2945 Lincoln Highway in the Thorndale section of Caln Township. The tree is near the Thorndale train station train tracks and very close to the eastbound lane of traffic on Lincoln Highway ( Business Route 30). According to JC, the tree has been hanging on the wires for at least three years. He added that lately it has gotten worse, and it is on almost a 45 degree angle.
“I’m willing to bet my paycheck that if and when it falls, it will surely land in the roadway. Heaven forbid that some unlucky person is coming by at that moment, ( it could even be me), and is hit by the tree and injured or even killed, or panics and veers into the oncoming lane of traffic and hits another car,” JC said. “This scenario can all be prevented. With all the unusual wind and bad storms we have had this year it’s not out of the question that a gust of wind can cause this tree to fall soon.”
His reason for contacting the various parties is simply about safety, and now The tree is near the Thorndale train station train tracks and the eastbound lane of traffic on Lincoln Highway ( Business Route 30) in the Thorndale section of Caln Township. the potential hazards can be prevented with the removal of the tree.
“It’s a safety issue,” JC said, “everyone should be concerned for others’ safety.”
JC had spoken with the Caln Township Code Department and a representative said that they do not get involved in cutting trees on private property. Caln Township Manager Kristen Denne confirmed that, when reached by the Daily Local News about the matter. During her lunch break that day, she drove down Lincoln Highway and said she saw there is a tree affecting the wires. She informed PECO and Amtrak that day. JC had also contacted those two parties and he noted that representative from both companies had visited that area to investigate the matter. However, he said he had not heard anything further.
When a reporter reached out to Amtrak, Beth K. Toll, Public Relations Manager for Amtrak, said they were aware of the issue and were investigating the matter. A short time later, she responded that they are in the process of planning to have the tree removed. A removal date has not been set yet. Visit Daily Local News staff writer Ginger Rae Dunbar’s blog about journalism and volunteering as a firefighter at FirefighterGinger. blogspot. com.