Getting ready to clear the damaged tree

Just after 3.30pm this afternoon (20/01/2010) it is believed that a truck clipped a centre median strip tree near the corner of Nepean Highway and White Street in Mordialloc and partially blocked the outside, outbound lane of the Highway.

Removing the initial branch that had been hit by a truck.

Chelsea SES was called in to remove the branch but on inspection of the tree it was discovered that the entire trunk had been split and the tree was in danger of falling onto the busy highway.

The offending tree hanging precariously over Nepean Highway

With peak hour traffic building, it was decided that the safest course of action was to remove the tree completely. The middle lane of traffic was then closed off as well for safety reasons.

With 2 lanes safely closed it was time to bring the tree down

Going...

Going...

Gone!

The 2 outside, outbound  lanes of the Highway were closed off for a short time outside of the Parkdale Plaza Shopping Centre whilst the tree was cleared and the Highway was reopened to all traffic very quickly.