Sharon could lose 22 trees ahead ofsidewalk replacement project

SHARON – As Sharon moves ahead with a major downtown sidewalk replacement project that will improve safety and walkability, 22 trees along the route have been identified as being in poor condition and recommended for removal.

The fate of the trees was a major focus of a public meeting Wednesday, Aug. 12, as town officials, residents, engineers and tree experts discussed the potential impact on the treescape.

The meeting marked the second gathering on the topic. An initial conversation held in January dealt with the type of materials to be used for the sidewalks, although no decision has been made on that matter.

Cardinal Engineering’s Ray Seelye, senior project manager for the sidewalk proposal, began by explaining its overall scope, which involves replacing 11,000 feet of bituminous asphalt that is in poor condition. The path stretches primarily from the shopping center along Route 41 to the intersection of Routes 4 and 343, taking in parts of West Main Street and other small sections along New Street, Hospital Hill and Cemetery Hill. They will mainly be 4-feet wide, as they are now.

“Some of the sidewalks have lots of cracks and damage from roots,” Seelye said. “They’re beyond their useful life. We will bring them up to current standards and ADA compliance to provide a safe pedestrian route throughout the town.”

The project received a grant from the Transportation Rural Improvement Program (TRIP) for $1.1 million. The total cost is estimated to be $2.1 million, with the remaining balance likely to be covered by the town.

Seelye said wherever the sidewalk crosses a driveway, repairs will be made, but they must meet ADA requirements.

Greg Beck of Bartlett Tree Experts said his company completed an initial inspection in April and graded the trees as good if they were healthy, fair if they had moderate structural defects, and poor if structural problems could not be abated.

Some trees, he said, can sustain impacts of construction and not be structurally affected. Others cannot and have to be removed.

During a follow-up visit in July, experts were most concerned with the honey locusts along Main Street. Four of them were the worst offenders of raising sidewalks, noting four of 18 are recommended for removal. Several audience members favored removing the tree nearest West Main Street, saying it blocks the stop sign and is responsible for many near-accidents.

Out of the total of 130 trees assessed, 22 are categorized as poor and recommended to be removed, said Allan Fenner of Bartlett Tree Experts. Eighty are rated good and 28 are rated fair.

During the meeting, Philip Barlow, a landscape architect from Third Act Connecticut – a statewide movement focused on climate and democracy – spoke about the various materials that could be used on the sidewalks, sharing pros and cons for each. He compared asphalt, concrete, pavers, stone dust and stamp concrete, among others. Asphalt is the least expensive and would cost around $450,000, while concrete would cost $780,000. The additional options could cost up to $1 million or more.

The engineers emphasized that they will install the material chosen by the town and Board of Selectmen and that they are not recommending one over another. An informal show of hands by those present showed there are mixed opinions for either asphalt or concrete.