Clearing, Tree Removal and Protection Art. 201.02
Division 200 — Earthwork, Landscaping, and Erosion Control
EARTHWORK SECTION 201. CLEARING, TREE REMOVAL AND PROTECTION, CARE AND REPAIR OF EXISTING PLANT MATERIAL
201.01 Description. This work shall consist of performing the following items
wherever they occur within the right-of-way, or within the limits of construction, including the areas of borrow pits furnished by the Department.
a.Clearing. Clearing shall consist of the removal and disposal of all obstructions such as fences, walls, foundations, buildings, accumulations of rubbish of whatever nature and existing structures, the removal of which is not otherwise provided for in Article 501.07; all logs, shrubs, bushes, saplings, grass, weeds, other vegetation and stumps of a diameter less than 6 in. (150 mm).
b.Tree Removal. Tree Removal shall consist of the cutting, grubbing, removal, and disposal of trees and stumps, as hereinafter defined.
c.Protection of Existing Plant Material. Protection of existing plant material shall consist of directing work activity away from and protecting trees, shrubs, turf, and herbaceous plants on and adjacent to the right-of-way.
d.Care of Existing Plant Material. Care of existing plant material shall consist of pruning, fertilizing, and watering existing plant material to maintain health and vigor during and following construction activity.
e.Repair or Replacement of Existing Plant Material. Repair or replacement of existing plant material damaged by the Contractor shall consist of restoring to original condition specific plant material that was designated to be saved within the limits of construction, or restoring plant material outside the limits of construction that was damaged by the Contractor.
201.02 Definitions. Tree - A woody, perennial plant having a single main
stem or trunk, the diameter of which is 6 in. (150 mm) or more at a point 4.5 ft (1.3 m) above the highest ground level at the base of the tree. Those having a diameter less than 6 in. (150 mm) will be considered saplings. A multiple-stem tree that forks below the 4.5 ft (1.3 m) point of measurement will be considered a cluster of individual trees. A tree that forks at or above the 4.5 ft (1.3 m) point of measurement will be considered a single tree. A tree stump with a diameter at cut off of 6 in. (150 mm) or more will be considered as a tree for purposes of measurement and removal. Limits of Construction - A boundary line, not necessarily the right-of-way line, extending along each side of the centerline of the improvement as shown on the plans or cross sections, or as designated by the Engineer. Art. 201.02 Clearing, Tree Removal and Protection Root Zone - An area around a plant extending at least as far from the base as the longest horizontal branches. CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
201.03 Removal of Obstructions and Other Materials. All items defined as
clearing in Article 201.01(a) shall be removed and disposed of as required by these Specifications.
201.04 Tree Removal. Prior to beginning tree removal, all requirements of
Article 201 — 05(a) shall be completed. All trees, except those designated to be saved,
and all stumps, shall be cut and disposed of according to Article 202.03. Trees and stumps within the slope limits of embankments 2 ft (600 mm) or more in depth shall be cut off at ground level. All other trees and stumps within the right-of-way shall be removed to a depth of not less than 12 in. (300 mm) below the elevation of the subgrade, the finished earth surface, or the ground line. Trees of Osage Orange shall not be cut off as specified above, but shall be pulled or grubbed in such a manner as to ensure complete removal.
201.05 Protection of Existing Plant Material. All plant material designated
to be saved, or outside of the limits of construction, shall be protected prior to beginning any clearing or removal work and shall remain protected during subsequent construction work. Parking or maneuvering of machinery, stockpiling of materials, or any other use will not be allowed upon unpaved areas within 10 ft (3 m) of the root zone of trees or plants designated to be protected. If requested by the Contractor, the Engineer will stake or otherwise mark these protection limits.
a.Temporary Fencing. The Contractor shall manually erect a temporary fence as designated on the plans or where directed by the Engineer. The temporary fence shall be similar to plastic or wood lathe snow fence, and shall be a minimum of 4 ft (1.2 m) high with stakes placed a maximum of 15 ft (4.5 m) apart.
b.Tree Trunk Protection. The Contractor shall provide 2 in. x 8 in. x 8 ft (50 mm x 200 mm x 2.4 m) boards banded continuously around each trunk to prevent scarring of trees shown on the plans or designated by the Engineer. For multistem trees, saplings, and shrubs to be protected within the area of construction, temporary fencing may be used for trunk protection.
c.Pruning for Safety and Equipment Clearance. All pruning shall be done according to the current ANSI A300 (Part 1) – Pruning standard. Plant material shall be pruned to provide a minimum vertical clearance of 20 ft (6 m) from the finished surface of the road bed and shoulders. Pruning for sight distance and other safety purposes shall be as shown on the plans or as directed by the Engineer. Branches on existing plant material to remain that need to be removed for safety or equipment clearance shall be pruned prior to or during the clearing operation. Breaking off branches of plant Clearing, Tree Removal and Protection Art. 201.06 material to remain during clearing or construction operations will not be allowed.
201.06 Care of Existing Plant Material. Root and tree pruning shall be
performed as follows.
a.Root Pruning. If construction is to occur within the root zone of existing plant material, root pruning and special plant care will be required. All pruning shall be performed by a professional arborist. Root pruning using an approved mechanical root pruning saw shall be performed prior to digging where noted on the plans, or directed by the Engineer. Whenever roots of plant material to remain are exposed during construction, the damaged root ends are to be removed by cutting them off cleanly. Pruning shall be done in the presence of the Engineer and in such a manner as to preserve the natural growth habit of each plant. Any damage to the root zone, as determined by the Engineer, shall be compensated by pruning an equivalent amount of the top vegetative growth of the plant material within one week following root damage. The procedure of “drop crotch” pruning shall be employed for all trimming of branches in excess of 2 in. (50 mm) in diameter. Fertilizing and watering after root pruning shall be as follows.
1.Fertilizer Nutrients. Fertilizer nutrients shall be applied within 48 hours after root damage occurs. A fertilizer with a 1:1:1 ratio shall be applied at the rate of 5 lb (2 kg) of nutrients per 1000 sq ft (90 sq m). Application shall be accomplished by placing dry fertilizer in holes in the soil. The holes shall be 8 to 12 in. (200 to 300 mm) deep and spaced 2 ft (600 mm) apart in an area beginning 30 in. (750 mm) from the base of the plant. Holes shall be punched with a punch bar, dug with a spade, drilled with an auger, or any other method approved by the Engineer. Approximately 0.02 lb (10 g) of fertilizer nutrients shall be placed in each hole [250 holes/1000 sq ft (250 holes/90 sq m)]. If the Engineer determines that the hole method of fertilizer placement is not practical or desirable, an approved method of uniform surface application will be allowed.
2.Supplemental Watering. In case of inadequate rainfall, as determined by the Engineer, supplemental water shall be applied within 48 hours of any root damage. The water shall be applied at the rate of 2 gal/sq yd (9 L/sq m) of surface area within the root zone of plant material having sustained damage to the root zone. Subsequent weekly waterings shall be applied if deemed necessary by the Engineer. Art. 201.07 Clearing, Tree Removal and Protection
b.Tree Pruning. Tree pruning shall consist of pruning branches, for aesthetic and structural enhancement, of existing trees as shown on the plans or as directed by the Engineer. All pruning shall be done according to the current ANSI A300 (Part 1) – Pruning standard. All branch pruning shall be done between October 15 and April 15, when the trees are dormant.
201.07 Repair or Replacement of Existing Plant Material. The Contractor
shall repair or replace any and all damage, deemed unnecessary by the Engineer to any existing or newly installed plant material. Unnecessary damage to ground cover or turf shall be repaired or replaced as specified for restoration of similar areas within the plans, or as directed by the Engineer. All replacement planting under this Article shall be according to Section 253 and
Article 1081 — 01; and shall be barerooted, or balled and burlapped according to the
transplanting requirements of the plants. Replacement, if required, shall be as follows.
a.Trees. Furnish, deliver, and plant a tree of the same species and variety and of the same size; or furnish, deliver, and plant at locations designated by the Engineer, a number of saplings of the same species and variety, each having a minimum diameter of 2 in. (50 mm), with the sum of the inch (millimeter) - diameters of saplings equaling the inch (millimeter) diameter of the tree to be replaced.
b.Shrubs, Small Trees or Evergreens. Furnish, deliver, and plant a plant of the same species and variety, and of the same size in height or width; or furnish, deliver and plant at locations designated by the Engineer, a number of plants of the same species and variety whose total measurements shall equal the measurement of the plant to be replaced, measured as above.
201.08 Removal of Saplings, Bushes and Roots. Prior to beginning
removal of saplings, bushes, and roots, all requirements of Article 201.05 shall be completed. All saplings and bushes, except those designated to be saved, and all roots within the slope limits of embankments 2 ft (600 mm) or more in depth shall be cut off at the ground level. All other saplings, bushes and roots within the right-of-way shall be removed to a depth of not less than 12 in. (300 mm) below the elevation of the subgrade, the finished earth surface, or the ground line, and at least below the bottom of the subbase material. Bushes of Osage Orange shall not be cut off as specified above, but shall be pulled or grubbed in such a manner as to ensure complete removal.
201.09 Disposal of Materials. Materials shall be disposed of according to
Article 202 — 03.
201.10 Method of Measurement. This work will be measured for payment as
follows.
a.Clearing. Clearing will not be measured for payment.
b.Tree Removal. Clearing, Tree Removal and Protection Art. 201.10
1.Unit Diameter. Trees to be removed as a payment item, but not measured in acres (hectares), will be measured per unit of diameter where one unit is equal to 1 in. (25 mm). The diameter will be measured at a point 4.5 ft (1.3 m) above the highest ground level at the base of the tree and will be determined by dividing the measured circumference of the tree by 3.1416. Stumps will be measured at the elevation of cut off. A multiple stem tree’s branches having a diameter of 6 in. (150 mm) or more at a point 4.5 ft (1.3 m) above the highest ground level at the base of the tree will be measured for payment as individual trees. The accumulated total number of units will be the pay quantity.
2.Acre (Hectare) as Unit.
a.Contract Quantities. The requirements for the use of contract quantities shall be according to Article 202.07.
b.Measured Quantities. Trees to be removed will be measured by the acre (hectare) when included in the contract as a payment item and shown at definite locations on the plans or staked for removal by the Engineer. The entire area shown on the plans, and directed by the Engineer, will be used in computing the acres (hectares). No deductions will be made for bare areas and existing roads occurring within these limits. Any removal of bushes or saplings within such areas will not be measured separately for payment.
3.When it is necessary to remove trees in connection with borrow pits furnished by the Contractor, trees will not be measured for payment.
c.Protection of Existing Plant Material.
1.Temporary Fencing. Temporary fencing will be measured for payment in feet (meters) in place.
2.Tree Trunk Protection. Tree trunk protection will be measured for payment as each per tree. A tree with from one to three stems with one stem having a diameter of 6 in. (150 mm) or more or a sapling shall be measured as one tree. Tree trunk protection shall include furnishing, installing and removing this item.
3.Pruning for Safety and Equipment Clearance. Pruning for safety and equipment clearance will not be measured for payment.
d.Care of Existing Plant Material.
1.Tree Root Pruning. Tree root pruning will be measured for payment as each per tree. Roots pruned on trees with one to three stems with one stem having a diameter equal to or greater than 6 in. (150 mm) will be measured as individual items. All pruning, including top pruning necessary to maintain the vigor of the tree, shall be completed prior to measurement for payment. Art. 201.10 Clearing, Tree Removal and Protection Trimming of roots exposed during excavation will not be measured for payment.
2.Fertilizer Nutrients. Fertilizer will be measured by weight (mass) in pounds (kilograms) of actual nutrients used.
3.Supplemental Watering. Supplemental watering will be measured for payment in units of 1000 gal (1000 L) of water applied to the root zones of plant material.
4.Tree Pruning. Tree pruning for trees and saplings 1 to 10 in. (25 to 250 mm) in diameter will be measured for payment as each per tree or sapling. Tree pruning for trees over 10 in. (250 mm) in diameter will be measured for payment as each per tree. Measurement of trunk diameters will be according to Article 201.10(b)(1).
201.11 Basis of Payment. This work will be paid for as follows.
a.Tree Removal. Tree removal will be paid for at the contract unit price per unit diameter for TREE REMOVAL (6 to 15 UNITS DIAMETER) or TREE REMOVAL (OVER 15 UNITS DIAMETER); and per acre (hectare) for TREE REMOVAL, ACRES (HECTARES). If the contract includes a payment item for Tree Removal, Acres (Hectares) but does not include a payment item for Tree Removal, Units Diameter, any tree removal not paid for as Tree Removal, Acres (Hectares), will be paid for according to Article 109.04.
b.Protection of Existing Plant Material. This work will be paid for at the contract unit price per foot (meter) for TEMPORARY FENCE and at the contract unit price per each for TREE TRUNK PROTECTION. If no pay items have been established in the contract for the protection of existing plant material, this work will be paid for according to Article 109.04.
c.Care of Existing Plant Material. This work will be paid for at the contract unit price per each for TREE ROOT PRUNING, TREE PRUNING (1 TO 10 IN. DIAMETER) (25 TO 250 MILLIMETERS DIAMETER), or TREE PRUNING (OVER 10 IN. DIAMETER) (OVER 250 MILLIMETERS DIAMETER); at the contract unit price per pound (kilogram) for NITROGEN FERTILIZER NUTRIENT, POTASSIUM FERTILIZER NUTRIENT, or PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER NUTRIENT; and at the contract unit price per unit for SUPPLEMENTAL WATERING. Top pruning necessary to maintain the vigor of the tree will not be paid for as a separate item, but shall be included in the bid price for TREE ROOT PRUNING. If no pay items have been established in the contract for the care of existing plant material, this work will be paid for according to Article 109.04. Earth and Rock Excavation Art. 202.03 SECTION 202. EARTH AND ROCK EXCAVATION
202.01 Description. This work shall consist of the excavation and
transportation of suitable and restricted-use excavated material to embankment locations throughout the limits of the contract, or the excavation, transportation, and disposal of excavated material. This work does not include excavation for structures or channel excavation. CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
202.02 Clearing, Tree Removal, and Protection of Existing Plant Material.
Prior to starting excavation operations in any area, all clearing, tree removal, and protection of existing plant material in that area shall be performed according to
202.03 Removal and Disposal of Surplus, Unsuitable, and Organic
Materials. During excavation, pertinent materials will be designated by the Engineer as suitable, unsuitable, or restricted-use according to Article 1009.04. Suitable and restricted-use excavated materials shall not be wasted without permission of the Engineer. The Contractor shall dispose of all surplus, unsuitable, and organic materials in such a manner that public or private property will not be damaged or endangered. Restricted-use miscellaneous materials according to Article 1009.04 may be placed in fills or embankments according to Section 205. Broken concrete without protruding metal bars, bricks, rock, or stone may be used as riprap as approved by the Engineer. If restricted-use miscellaneous materials are used for fill in locations within the right-of-way but outside the construction limits, the Contractor shall specify to the Engineer, in writing, how the landscape restoration of the fill areas will be accomplished. Placement of fill in such areas shall not commence until the Contractor’s landscape restoration plan is approved by the Engineer. Aside from the materials listed above, all other construction and demolition debris or waste shall be disposed of in a licensed landfill, recycled, reused, or otherwise disposed of as allowed by State or Federal laws and regulations. When the Contractor chooses to dispose of uncontaminated soil at a clean construction and demolition debris (CCDD) facility or at an uncontaminated soil fill operation, it shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to have the pH of the material tested to ensure the value is between 6.25 and 9.0, inclusive. A copy of the pH test results shall be provided to the Engineer. A permit shall be obtained from IEPA and made available to the Engineer prior to open burning of organic materials (i.e., plant refuse resulting from pruning or removal of trees or shrubs) or other construction or demolition debris. Organic materials originating within the right-of-way limits may be chipped or shredded and placed as mulch around landscape plantings within the right-of-way when approved by the Engineer. Chipped or shredded material to be placed as mulch shall not exceed a depth of 6 in. (150 mm). When the Contractor proposes to dispose of surplus excavated material off the right-of-way, the Contractor shall obtain and file with the Engineer permission in
Referenced in this section
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Source: Illinois Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2022 Edition. Pages 90–96 of 1,217. View official source ↗