The investment concerns 3.5 km of the tram route from the former Dąbie depot to the tram terminus in Biskupin. The work performance agreement was signed at the end of July, but repair works had to be closed because of concern about the condition of over 100-year-old trees. The cost of the investment is 20 million PLN.
‘Not much has been done here for the last few months, so I want to thank all inhabitants for their patience. It is an unusual construction project, protected by a monument conservator and subject to ecological protection. The entire process will be supervised by a dendrologist,’ says Krzysztof Balawejder, the president of MPK Wrocław. He adds that a repair plan has been prepared for the last four months to enable the performance of repair works in accordance with environmental safety standards. Opinions were prepared by dendrologists from Poznań, Warsaw and Wroclaw. At the same time, roots were watered and covered. During construction works, special ballasts will be used to protect roots against the excess pressure of the tram trackage (if any).
Historical trees
The dendrologist Radosław Sobolewski explains that ul. Olszewskiego is an alley of common oaks and red oaks that are a ‘compositional element of the housing estate’.
‘Green is an integral part of the historic housing estate; it determines the identity of this place. ‘We would perceive this street differently without these old trees,’ says the tree expert. Sobolewski stresses that the dieback of trees is very slow and potential results of the repair will be known in a few years.
‘Damages are not visible even two years after the investment; the life cycle of a tree is more extended. Results of works can usually be seen after 5–10 years. Unfortunately, all works will have an impact on living organisms. We want to minimise this impact,’ he announces. ‘It is a post-German housing estate, where trees were planted in the years 1890–1910. Some of them may be even 130 years’ old.
Izabela Wąs-Kielar, inspector of dendrological supervision: ‘We will ensure that the investment is carried out with respect for greenery and the protection of the tree root system. We do not want the condition of trees to deteriorate upon completion of the investment.’
New project
According to the plan, tram trackage construction works will start on 5th December; they will include the use of French drain and the construction of an overhead contact line and passages in points of collision with the existing road layout.
