MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A section of a Whitehaven road is so overgrown with trees, it is difficult to see what look like powerlines running alongside it.
Whitehaven resident Carolyn Crump says it’s been years since the trees have been trimmed in the area between 21 East Falls Road and 23 West Falls Road. She brought this to ABC24’s attention during a Let’s Talk townhall meeting in June.
“Five or six or more years?” Crump said, estimating the last time the trees were pruned. “Maybe more than that.”
Crump’s concern was that these were powerlines and that being tangled up in these trees is the reason for the area’s constant power outages.
“Power outages are so frequent here in Memphis,” she said. “And that’s one of the causes is overhanging and overgrown limbs.”
However, Memphis Light Gas and Water told ABC24 these are actually phone lines that at least Comcast and AT&T are responsible for maintaining.
They pose a hazard all the same.
With how many trees these phone lines are wound through, it appears as if just one tree falling could bring them all down, threatening area phone service.
“Some of these wires are actually entangled in the limbs itself,” Crump said.
The overgrown branches are also a potential risk for area drivers.
“[When] it starts getting dark, that area in there is darker than anything,” Crump said, gesturing to the foliage-filled stretch of road.
Crump says she’s already had one tree fall and damage her home and says it’s time for the trees to go.
“We want community not canopy,” she said.
ABC24 has reached out to AT&T and Comcast about the tree trimming. AT&T provided the following statement in part:
"We're working with our contractor to have a crew trim any branches from our cables. We expect this work to be completed as soon as this week."
AT&T also said residents with concerns about overgrown trees that are interfering with their cables should contact them at 800-288-2020.
"Not all cases are safety related and resolution does not always require immediate tree trimming," the statement from AT&T said.
ABC24 is still waiting for a response from Comcast.