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Q. Recently on Interstate 540, the banks that line the highway have been stripped of all grasses and small trees that held the soil in place. Nothing has been replanted, and the banks are quite steep in some of these stripped areas.

What is the state doing to prevent erosion?

-- Kim Wood

A. This one was pretty easy to find an answer for, thanks to our friends at the state Department of Transportation.

According to engineer Battle Whitley IV, the work was done to remove the overgrowth of "volunteer" pine trees, blocking sight to roadway signage and making it difficult to inspect and maintain overhead sign structures.

In addition, several sections of these roadside slopes have smaller ornamental and hardwood trees, planted as part of the department's reforestation efforts.

The volunteer pines were overtaking these slower growing trees and needed to be removed to allow the intentionally planted trees to properly mature.

Due to the shade created by the thick growth of pine trees, there was very little grass on these slopes. The lack of grass was not entirely due to the removal of the pines. The removal of the pines will now provide an opportunity for the department to better establish grass cover and better control erosion that was occurring.

The slopes in question have been re-seeded. A recent inspection found that grass is beginning to grow in a majority of the areas where the pines were removed. Staff will continue to monitor the slower growing areas for potential re-application of seed as needed.

One last note: The removal of the pines was essentially a mowing operation. Therefore, the root structure of those pine trees was left intact just below the surface to help maintain the structure of the slope.

Many areas where it is obvious erosion has occurred existed prior to the removal of the pine trees. The department is taking steps to repair these areas. Had the pines not been removed, these locations could have become worse because they were hidden by the overgrowth.