Zhengzhou official panned for planting trees under overpass  

鄭州園林局回應橋下種樹稱可提升空間利用率

一則“鄭州立交橋下種樹”的新聞引發公眾關注。這也是繼2013年5月鄭州立交橋下種法桐后，第二次因橋下種樹成為輿論焦點。對此，鄭州市園林局三環建設工程項目部李鵬飛接受記者采訪時稱，利用一些耐陰慢生的樹木穿插到橋下綠化，既可提升整體立交橋的空間利用率，也可提高綠化量，同時還能提升生態效益和景觀效益。然由于施工方趕工期未及時對樹木修剪，才造成如今不良影響。[查看全文]

Zhengzhou (ECNS) – Trees planted under an overpass in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan province, have aroused concern from the public.

Many citizens have said that it's not proper to plant trees under an overpass, while an official at the municipal Gardens Bureau responded that the trees can better utilize space under the overpass and increase the city's green coverage, according to the local Dahe Daily.

Over 40 privets have been planted under the overpass located along the city's North 3rd Ring Road, and some hollies have been planted around the privets.

Some trees are so tall that their crowns have reached the top of the overpass. An unnamed citizen worried the trees might potentially cause security problems. "Moreover, trees can hardly survive without sunlight," he said.

A worker planting trees at the site said they wouldn't grow or survive under the overpass without sunlight.

Li Pengfei, the Gardens Bureau official, said the chosen trees are shade-tolerant and slow-growing. "Besides, improving green coverage can bring ecological benefits to the city."

Li added that scattered light on the sides of the overpass can support the trees' growth, and that they would be trimmed to keep them from the overpass.

The bureau planted 10 oriental plane trees under a bridge in 2013, but none of them survived.

A netizen suggested on the Dahe Daily's official Weibo that a hotel for migrant workers should be constructed under the overpass.

Other suggestions included building a parking lot or public restrooms to make full use of the space.