South State Street Tree, Sidewalk Renovation Enters Third Year
It’s not orange barrels catching drivers’ attention on South State Street. It’s the barrier walls around the tree landscaping and the piles of bricks stacked beside them as the city begins the third year of a four-year project to renovate the corridor.
Work is now underway on the latest phase of improvements to the tree landscape and sidewalk areas along South State Street. Crews were at work last week removing bricks from around several trees as part of the ongoing effort.
The city’s four-year plan calls for replacing trees and rebuilding the areas around them, after years of problems stemming from the original design. In some locations, bricks around the trees were placed directly on the soil. Over time, the soil beneath the bricks subsided under their weight, causing them to sink, damaging tree roots, and creating safety hazards for pedestrians. Trees have already been removed from some of those locations.
Two years ago, the city tested a new approach to monitor tree growth and evaluate the durability and design of the grates covering the ground around the trees. Last year, 15 trees were planted using that updated method. The trees are set in openings covered by galvanized steel grates installed on concrete pads, with bricks placed on top for decoration and to help protect the ground and trees.
More than 20 tree sites will be repaired this year by Westerville Parks and the Service Division as the city continues work to improve sidewalk safety, create better growing conditions, and enhance the appearance of one of its main commercial corridors.
The same repair and replacement method will continue next year at additional South State Street tree locations. The fourth and final year of the project is expected to focus on other landscaping repairs and modifications, but on a smaller scale than the tree and ground reconstruction work now underway.
Barrier walls and active work zones remain in place along portions of South State Street, and drivers and pedestrians are urged to use caution near construction areas.
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