Work began this week on harvesting dead and dying trees at Pine Grove Preserve, a 27-acre pine forest on the west side of Route 88 (Foreside Road), located just beyond the intersection of US Route 1 in Falmouth.

For safety reasons, the preserve will be closed during the project – which is weather-dependent and expected to take at least three weeks – and residents can expect increased noise and truck traffic on Route 88.

“This is a substantial project requiring heavy equipment and will significantly alter the look of the preserve in the short term,” according to a press release from the town.

The project is required to address “significant safety issues” by removing the most dangerous hazards and will also improve the health of the forest by culling invasive plants and dead or dying trees to allow for new growth of both pines and hardwoods.

To learn more about the history of the preserve and the management plan see “Focus on Pine Grove,” a series of town-generated articles.