Hi, I have a 80+ year old Red Maple growing next to my driveway. It is about 70 feet tall and has an offshot limb that hangs out about 50 foot towards my neighbors yard. Tree is big ( about 3 feet in diameter). Directly opposite the offshut branch is a big root ( 6") that runs under my driveway and has effectively lifted my slab in my driveway. The tree is pretty straight with only a slight list towards my neighbors property. My question is: I want to replace my driveway and I need to remove this 6" root ( 3 feet long and then goes undergroung) Will this affect the health of the tree?? Is this a Tap root? I don't want to cutdown tree but may have no choice. The tree has many ground level roots but I am not sure if these are enough to keep tree standing. Tree has survived many storms and hasn't lost any major limbs yet. Any help is appreciated. Would like an answer within a month as contractor has already been hired for driveway work.

Thanks, Pictures available if they will help.

Big trees like that could possibly withstand the one root being severed. Since it is that large most likely it has other feeder roots available that will take over if the one root is cut. Since it has survived this long and does not pose any problems such as falling onto your home or your neighbors home, I'd suggest just going ahead with your plans. Just be sure to feed the tree a good fertilizer prior to the root trimming and after the root trimming. I hate to see big trees chopped down and I try and work around their needs. I hated when the two very large poplar trees next to my home had to be removed due to them dying. It about broke my heart to have them removed, but since there was no bringing them back, they had to go. Now I have beautiful European white birch in their place.