I-75 Tree & Wildflower Planting, MI

Michigan Department Of Transportation

The Michigan Department of Transportation enlisted the help of Davey Resource Group to establish a dense, habitat-friendly vegetation buffer between the I-75 mainline and ramps and the adjacent neighborhoods.

Project Narrative:

Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG) was contracted by Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Metro Region, to provide Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) services for a tree replacement and wildflower planting project. Following a 3.1-mile MDOT modernization project on Interstate Highway 75 (I-75) in Bloomfield Township and the cities of Troy and Auburn Hills, Oakland County requiring the removal of over 2,000 mature trees, MDOT sought to address community concerns about the loss of tree canopy by accelerating the re-landscaping of the area. DRG was brought on as the CM/GC contractor to perform the landscaping project. The goal for the project was to establish a dense vegetated buffer between the adjacent neighborhoods in these communities and the I-75 mainline and ramps. The new trees will grow to provide a permanent buffer and improve aesthetics for residents and motorists. 

This complex landscaping project was successfully executed in three phases: design, construction, and post-construction maintenance. For the design phase, DRG’s qualified team of biologists, certified arborists, and field staff provided recommendations and guidance to MDOT and their landscape architecture consultants during plan development.  Our experience and expertise ensured the appropriate plant species were selected and placed in appropriate locations for optimal success of the plant material and the project overall. DRG also provided valuable input on items affecting construction costs, scheduling, and maintenance. Our experience with successful tree establishment helped guarantee planting success while reducing construction and maintenance costs.

During the construction phase of the project, 4,390 trees, mostly sourced from the Davey Nursery, were installed based on landscape plans developed in the design phase. Crews took extra safety measures while working on this busy roadway and hired a qualified subcontractor to provide maintenance of traffic. 

DRG is currently executing the three-year post-construction maintenance phase of this project. The trees, shrubs, and wildflower beds are routinely inspected to assess plant survival and site conditions. Observations are recorded and analyzed to determine appropriate watering, weed and pest management, or tree replacement needs. Our staff then complete all necessary maintenance activities.

MDOT has been very pleased with the success of this project and implemented the same CM/GC process during phase II of the I-75 Modernization Project, planting over 4,000 trees in the next project area and undergoing a 5-year maintenance period.

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