Sergeant Lox Kellas, of Portobello, walks near a large pine tree which blocked Portobello Rd, just north of Company Bay, yesterday. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Dunedin City Council rural roading supervisor Andrew Lord said a call was received at 6.20am about the fallen tree.
Contractors were dispatched to close the road, put a detour in place to Highcliff Rd, and clear the mess.
The road was re-opened about 4.45pm.
DCC tree officer Elena O'Neill said the tree when it fell damaged two other large ones, which also had to be removed, and several shrubs.
The collapse was unpredictable and "not uncommon", she said.
It was neither a soil problem nor root failure and no other trees were posing a risk.
