Add ash tree removal to traffic woes in La Crosse

Crews working on stretches of West Ave. on Tuesday

Among the traffic tangles in La Crosse, this week, is the one that gets blamed on trees getting cut down. 

Traffic was stopped on West Ave. for stretches at a time between Jackson St. and South Ave. on Tuesday.

City crews there were working to remove ash trees from the boulevards.

It’s part of the city’s larger ash-tree-removal process that has seen thousands of trees disappear from boulevards and parks, as well.

The city plans to replace all ash trees with new species. Ash tree removal began in La Crosse three years ago as a way to preempt the devastation caused elsewhere by the emerald ash borer.

Total price for the ash tree cut down is $1.2 million.

Heading into May, the city had 2,700 ash trees left to remove, and that process is about two years from completion.

Replanting will take five years and a total around 4,300 trees, costing around $130 each.

Below is some of the fun crews had, while those driving by waited or found another way around.