MC MANMON: TREE PROBLEMS OF MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAYS 
89 
THE SHADE TREE PROBLEMS OF 
MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAYS 
By John V. McManmon, Director of Roadside Development , Massachusetts 
Department of Public Works , Boston , Mass. 
Roadside Development. Improved roads have become a necessity 
to practically every community. In the past, road construction has 
been directed chiefly toward improving the travelled way only which, of 
course, is of first importance. The increased use of roads, however, has 
brought about the necessity for greater widths and more intensive 
maintenance as the safety, comfort and convenience of the motorist 
involves a more or less complete development of the entire right-of-way. 
Roads are now built over and under railroads to eliminate the danger 
of grade crossings, and lights, warning signals and direction signs are 
being installed on open crossings. Trees are being planted and un¬ 
sightly places landscaped. Since proper roadside development is 
directly beneficial to motorists, abutting property owners and communi¬ 
ties at large, it should be included in every road program. 
Upon the completion of every road, provision is made for the safety, 
comfort and convenience of the motorist. While the primary object in 
constructing a road is to accommodate traffic, the ultimate service to 
the public depends upon the attention given these features. 
After the necessary plans are made, trees and shrubs are planted, 
shoulders and banks seeded and sodded, grass and weeds kept mowed 
and the entire right-of-way maintained. This work has come to be 
known as Roadside Development and the Department of Public Works 
has taken an active interest in this in order that the roads and highways 
of our Commonwealth might be made beautiful and delightful for the 
enjoyment of the motorist. 
Massachusetts has a shade tree problem that is a little different from 
other states, in that a great deal of our road construction is on old 
right-of-way which means that we have the problem of dealing with old 
established trees that have been planted in rows rather close to the 
roadway. This condition was created by the construction of highways 
that at the time seemed to meet the traffic demands. As the increase in 
traffic took place, these roads did not meet the demands of the traffic 
flow and therefore they had to be reconstructed, curves eliminated and 
sight distances increased to allow safer use of the roadway. 
Therefore, to meet this problem, the Department of Public Works, 
through the Bureau of Public Roads, received approval to transplant 
