ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – It was a sight many living on one of Brevard County’s most beautiful roads hoped they’d never see - dozens of their beloved old trees overhanging Rockledge Drive being trimmed.
Last week, the county announced it was ready to finally come through on a polarizing plan to trim 61 trees to clear the narrow, winding road along the Indian River for large vehicles.
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On Monday, branches began to fall. The county said contractors did minor trimming on 30 of the trees. Fifteen will be “severely” trimmed on another day.
The workers used a large measuring stick to mark the 14-foot clearance public works director Marc Bernath said was needed so school buses and garbage trucks don’t have to drive on the wrong side of the road anymore in some places.
Rockledge Drive resident Lucy Hixenbaugh said some trimming would be best for the safety of the entire neighborhood.
“I’ve seen firetrucks having to stop in the south of this road and turn back because they couldn’t get to the houses,” she said. “I think people just have to bring that in mind too, not just the trees coming down.”
Other neighbors have expressed their disapproval of cutting trees.
An 87-year-old woman named Betty told News 6 reporter James Sparvero about how long the scenic trees have been growing.
“It’s taken this tree 20-something years to grow and I really don’t want them cut,” she said.
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