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A large tree branch fell on a central Dunedin street this morning, disrupting traffic for a time.

Emergency services were called to Crawford St by Queens Gardens shortly after 8am.

A police spokeswoman said the branch was blocking the road, disrupting traffic.

Emergency services members work to clear the tree branch in Crawford St. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
Emergency services members work to clear the tree branch in Crawford St. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

A photographer at the scene said traffic was backed up to the motorway, and Andersons Bay Rd was at a standstill. 

The NZ Transport Agency advised around 9.20am that the road was clear.

Photo: Bob Pinker
Photo: Bob Pinker

Comments

Three concerns,
One, the health of the tree by a state highway.
Two, why the branch could not have been pulled to the side to allow traffic through.
Three, is this a taste of Dunedin traffic if the one way system gets revamped for the hospital build.

Have you seen the size of the branch that fell? Also take another look at the photo, it fell between a lampost and traffic lights so it not going to be so easy to just pull it out of the way.

Yes it fell between the lamp post and traffic lights allowing them to pull it to the left hand side, something any farmer would do!

Luckily no one got hurt. But these elms should be regularly inspected for canopy weight and branch fork condition to minimize the risk of branch failure.

Is anyone else noticing that bits seem to be falling off the Queens Garden trees with increasing frequency? Just luck that no-one was hurt or killed given how big todays windfall was. Time to replant with something smaller and less brittle?

 

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