Protecting Pedestrians from Tree Root Trip and Fall Hazards

SAN DIEGO - Nov. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- I was once retained as a certifed arborist expert witness in a personal injury case where a pedestrian had tripped over a cast iron tree grate.   City and private trees located within concrete sidewalks and patios where there is heavy pedestrian traffic often have iron or steel tree grates installed over the tree pit.  The grate is installed flush to the surface of the surrounding sidewalk providing an even surface while protecting pedestrians from tree roots.  The tree roots in turn are protected from pedestrian traffic and injury.

Within a decade, the tree trunk diameter or root crown exceeds the opening of the iron grate, resulting in the tree lifting one or both sides of the grate.  This creates an uneven surface within the sidewalk and a dangerous trip and fall hazard.  Reduced maintenance budgets often dictate tree removal to fix the condition.

I had the good fortune to meet with Mr. Christian Rodriguez of Blue Drop, Inc.  His company manufactures Safe Path, a poured in place product meant to replace cast iron tree grates.   We met at a downtown San Diego street intersection where Safe Path was being installed around existing mature street trees that had outgrown the tree grates previously installed.

The product is poured and trowled in place within the tree pit, filling the pit with a rubberized, permeable material.  The product is custom installed around surface tree roots and the tree trunk.  As the tree grows, the product is designed to split and be cut away from the expanding tree trunk or surface roots.  I observed water being poured into a tree well containing the Safe Path product.  The water instantly infiltrated the product and disappeared.

I had no previous knowledge of this product or the company.  I have no financial or business interest with Mr. Rodriguez, his company or product.  As a certified arborist interested in learning about new technologies that promote publice safety and tree health, I was very impressed by the product.

To read a full product review, click the link below.

http://landscapeexpertwitness.com/2014/11/11/protect-tree...