Zhengzhou official panned for planting trees under overpass  

郑州园林局回应桥下种树称可提升空间利用率

一则“郑州立交桥下种树”的新闻引发公众关注。这也是继2013年5月郑州立交桥下种法桐后，第二次因桥下种树成为舆论焦点。对此，郑州市园林局三环建设工程项目部李鹏飞接受记者采访时称，利用一些耐阴慢生的树木穿插到桥下绿化，既可提升整体立交桥的空间利用率，也可提高绿化量，同时还能提升生态效益和景观效益。然由于施工方赶工期未及时对树木修剪，才造成如今不良影响。[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.