Illinois Department of Transportation to Stop Planting Ash

PEORIA, Ill. — In an effort to stop the spread of invasive emerald ash borer beetle, the Illinois Department of Transportation says it won't plant ash trees in any more of its landscaping projects.

Craig Mitckes is a maintenance manager for the department. He says IDOT would like to be proactive in stopping the beetle's spread across Illinois. He also says department crews will remove any ash trees that are infested.

Juliann Heminghous is the emerald ash borer outreach coordinator for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. She says any help from IDOT would provide significant help in fighting the beetles.

Emerald ash borers feed on ash trees, eventually killing them. The insect has been blamed for killing millions of trees in the Midwest.