GREEN BAY, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin‑Green Bay announced a plan to remove dead trees and hazardous branches along Nicolet Drive before the region’s significant winter weather arrives. The university will fund the work with roughly $30,000 from its own institutional budget, explicitly avoiding any charge to students, tuition, or donated funds.

Background and recent incidents

On August 19, 2026, a tree from university property fell onto Nicolet Drive, striking a passing vehicle. No injuries were reported, but the incident prompted concerns from nearby residents about the safety of the roadway and the potential for power outages. Since that event, community members have reported at least three additional incidents in which tree limbs have fallen onto the road, including one that struck another vehicle.

University response

UW‑Green Bay Assistant Chancellor for Compliance, Facilities & Safety Christopher Paquet wrote to Green Bay Alderperson Jennifer Grant to outline the university’s actions. The letter, dated October 20, 2026, detailed the steps taken since the August incident, including an independent assessment by Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC. Asplundh’s September 29 report identified dead trees, underbrush, and overhanging branches that pose a risk to the roadway and provided a cost estimate of about $30,000 for remediation.

Following the assessment, the university consulted with UW System Capital Planning and the UW System Administration Office of Risk, as well as the Wisconsin Department of Administration, to explore funding options. Neither agency had available resources, prompting UW‑Green Bay to allocate its own institutional funds.

Procurement and timeline

State procurement rules (Wis. Stat. 16) require a competitive bidding process for contracts exceeding $5,000. UW‑Green Bay’s Facilities Management team worked with University Procurement to solicit bids, and Asplundh was selected as the successful contractor. The university expects Asplundh to begin work soon, with completion prioritized before the anticipated winter storms.

Paquet emphasized that the initial assessment was a general review, not a tree‑by‑tree inventory, and that the scope focused on the most significant hazards. He also noted that confidentiality requirements during the bidding process limited the amount of detail the university could share publicly.

Community impact

Local residents have expressed relief that the university is taking concrete steps to address the safety concerns. By using institutional funds, UW‑Green Bay ensures that students and donors are not burdened with additional costs, aligning with the university’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and community safety.

The university will keep Alderperson Grant, the Office of the Mayor, and the public informed as the project progresses, providing updates when a start date is confirmed and once the work is completed.

What’s next

UW‑Green Bay plans to monitor the area after the tree removal to ensure that the roadway remains safe throughout the winter months. Residents are encouraged to report any further hazards to the university’s Facilities & Safety office.

Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.