Sidewalk replacement program to begin next week
By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — The orange X’s painted on scores of mature street trees destined for the ax in The Ridings and Washington Greene neighborhoods prompted questions from concerned residents at the last council meeting.
The township, which is undertaking a sidewalk replacement program wherever street trees are causing the concrete to lift, recently sent letters to residents of these neighborhoods asking them to decide the fate of street trees in front of their homes.
Two options were presented: Cut down the mature trees and replace them with a small 2-inch caliber tree more suitable for the narrow strip between the sidewalk and street, or shave the roots of the existing mature trees before installing the new sidewalk. Residents choosing the latter option were warned that a new ordinance makes them financially responsible for future sidewalk repairs when the mature trees’ roots grow and lift the sidewalk slabs in the years ahead.
Sonja Walter, of Patriot Drive in Washington Greene, told the Township Council on Aug. 23 that the large honey locust street trees near her home were all marked with X’s even though she didn’t want them removed. She pointed out the letter from the town had stated the default option was leaving the mature tree and shaving down the roots unless residents stated they wanted the tree replaced.
”We finally have the trees at a point where they are providing some shade and now we’re going to go back to little saplings,” Ms. Walter said.
Dino Colarocco, the Public Works director, pointed out the letter had also stated that the township would replace any tree — even if that’s not the homeowner’s preferred option — whenever the existing tree is a poor candidate for root shaving due to its health, size, or the extent of its sidewalk encroachment.
Mr. Colarocco said he and Bill Brash, a tree expert from the Mercer County Soil Conservation District hired as a consultant on the project, had walked the various neighborhoods where sidewalks will be replaced to inspect street trees.
”One of the criteria was the viability of the tree,” Mr. Colarocco told Ms. Walter. “His take on that particular development is that there were Bradford pears, which are just very weak tress and problematic as they get older. We’ve had situations in other developments where when there’s winds they drop branches.”
Ms. Walter responded that the street trees near her Washington Greene home were honey locusts, not the tall flowering Bradford pears found on Canterbury Drive and elsewhere in the neighborhood.
”In your particular case, if he felt the tree had another problem, health-wise … he made the determination that it was probably better to plant a new tree,” Mr. Colarocco said.
Mr. Colarocco acknowledged that removing the mature street trees in Washington Greene and replacing them with new smaller trees was going to “change the whole canopy of the neighborhood.”
Council Vice President Vince Calcagno sought to reassure Ms. Walter about the impending loss of her honey locust trees by point out the extent of the damage that older honey locust trees have done in The Ridings neighborhood.
”The Ridings has this one stretch with honey locusts that are older than yours and they are actually lifting the aprons of the driveways up,” Mr. Calcagno told Ms. Walter.
Dave Boyne, of Barto Way in The Ridings, said all but nine street trees in his development are going to be cut down and he wanted to make sure the replacement trees are planted in appropriate places. Mr. Boyne said one honey locust tree marked for removal on his property was planted over a sewer drain by the builder, and he doesn’t want the replacement tree in the exact same location.
The first phase of the sidewalk replacement project is being done by A-Team Concrete of South River, which was awarded a $183,600 contract at the July 26 Township Council meeting. Council President Ron Witt said a pre-construction meeting was held Aug. 21 and the contractor is authorized to start work Sept. 10.
”It’s moving along,” Mr. Witt said. “We anticipate a three- to four-week work schedule.”
Future sidewalk projects are planned in other developments where street trees have also caused tripping hazards, including Washington Leas, Arbor Walk, Washington Hunt, The Woods at Washington, Walkers Run, Brookshire, Country Meadows, Saran Woods, Crestwood/Beechwood Acres, Woodside, Windsor Meadows, Meadowbrook Road, and Cambridge Knoll.

