By Dena Wood
The Times
Finishing Touches Put On Seventh Street
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August 8, 2013
A crew from a contractor puts down sod as a finishing touch on this summer's Seventh Street road-widening project in Waitsburg. This week, sev- eral residents who lost their grand old trees to the project were scheduled to receive new ones from the city as part of the street's new landscaping.
WAITSBURG - While several 7th Street residents have been saddened by the necessary removal of the grand old trees that lined the planting areas between their sidewalk and the newly renovated roadway, a fresh start is just around the corner. This week, yards are staked and awaiting the arrival of replacement trees, supplied by the city.
As part of the 7th Street Reconstruction Project, it was necessary to remove a total of five large trees grow- ing in the planting areas between the sidewalk and parking area, and interfering with the installation of the new sidewalks, according to City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe.
While it was previously allowed to plant trees in that area, this is no longer the case. Regulating the plant- ing of trees near sidewalks is intended to prevent simi- lar problems with sidewalk heaving in the future.
Those who lost trees along their property include Gabe and Jessica Kiefel, Butch and Jody Peck, Gail Gwynn and Joe Patrick. Today, those residents have chosen re- placement trees, marked their desired planting spots and are awaiting delivery of the new greenery.
Residents were able to choose from any species of tree that was appropriate to the area and readily avail- able at local nurseries. The replacement trees chosen include a Purple Robe Locust, a Golden Locust, two Pacific Sunset Maples and one Birch.
Tree replacement marks the final step in the 7th Street Reconstruction Project which has reached completion. A final walk-through is sched- uled for Wednesday, August 7. The project consisted of a basic reconstruction of West 7th Street, including a new roadway and sub-surface drainage, sidewalk installa- tion and new signage.
While running ahead of schedule in June, the project fell behind due to the July rains and was completed nearly a month later than the originally anticipated completion date of July 9.
The original bid for the project was about $568,000 with a total project budget was $715,000. Hinchliffe said the project will end up being under budget by thou- sands of dollars.
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