Giant cranes take over White House driveway as 2 trees moved as part of underground project

Construction ahead: Trees hauled from White House

WASHINGTON — On an otherwise quiet Saturday at the White House, there was quite a sight along the driveway: the careful unearthing of two trees to make way for some construction underneath the front lawn.

People walking along Pennsylvania Avenue saw two enormous cranes stationed just outside the West Wing. One crane lifted away a sugar maple tree that had been planted by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. And then a large linden tree, planted by the National Park Service in 1979, was also hauled out of the ground.

The White House said both trees eventually would be replanted in the front yard. They are being moved as part of a project to modernize the electrical wiring, duct work and other underground infrastructure of the building.

No cost estimate of the project was immediately released. A White House official said more details on the construction project would be released soon.

The moving of the trees was scheduled for the weekend to limit the disruption of daily activities at the White House.