The state Department of Transportation this week planted more than 50 trees along H-2 Freeway in place of the dozens of albizzia trees it removed this summer.

Crews planted 20 monkeypod, seven crepe myrtle and 26 native kou trees along the mauka-bound side of the freeway between the Pineapple Road overpass bridge and the Mililani Mauka exit. The planting project cost $30,000.

The department removed more than 60 non-native trees — mostly albizzias — since June, saying the trees posed a safety threat to drivers. Officials have said they would be replaced with sturdier trees.

But the project drew criticism from The Outdoor Circle and others. The Outdoor Circle publicly questioned whether all the trees that were removed or targeted for removal were hazards and needed to be cut down.

Arborists from the department and The Outdoor Circle surveyed the remaining trees and determined which should be removed or pruned. Both sides also agreed on a replanting plan.

"From the start we said we were going to replace the trees that we removed, and we intended to keep that promise," said Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa. "I think both sides tried to find a balance between safety and aesthetics. The Outdoor Circle is happy that we're restoring the greenery, and we're happy with the type of trees that are going in because they're much easier to maintain than the albizzias."

Ishikawa said the albizzias are invasive and grow 10 to 15 feet a year. When the trees grow wide, whole branches tend to snap off, he said.

Ishikawa said the department also plans to plant nearly 20 crepe myrtle trees along the Mililani Interchange within the next couple of months. The department also hopes to plant more trees along the makai-bound side of the freeway if funding is available, he said.

Bob Loy, director of environmental programs for The Outdoor Circle, said: "We're pleased the trees are in the ground. We wish that they didn't have to plant so many because the reason they had to plant so many is because they took so many out. But we're happy that they did it and really happy that they did it in a timely manner so that we get the benefit of the rainy season."

The department is still removing albizzia trees that pose safety hazards or are in poor health on the makai-bound side of the H-2.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.