Utica Weather

My family and I live on Wall St in W.Winfield, recently it has been announced that they are planning to widen our road, along with surrounding roads. This was great news to everyone who it effects, until we realized the HWY DEPT has intentions on cutting tree's down. The tree's have been on the road for many, many years and are beautiful all year around. They make up the characteristic's of Wall St. along with offering benefits to both residents and wildlife.
Wall St. residents have lived with the condition of the road being bad if not terrible for year's. Currently, there are markers on either side of the road indicating how much the county can legally take. If they choose to do so, that puts historical stone wall’s and trees at risk for removal. Residents should have the right to keep their tree’s that do not impose danger. It is completely understandable to cut down dead or dying trees, but is it really necessary to widen Wall St. to such extremes? Repairing the road and fixing the sides seems like a much easier project that would save a lot of money. Money that could be spread around the community to other roads in dire need of repair.
Traveler’s on Wall St. already have a hard time keeping their speed to a reasonable limit, with cars flying by houses, farms and livestock. Widening the road will only create more temptation for motorists to exceed safe speeds and put families and animals at risk. In recent years, there has been an increase in Amish horse and buggy travel along with horse-powered farm equipment around our community, their safety is at risk with fast-moving vehicles.
In a world that is so eco-conscious and money pinching, this type of road work seems excessive. Perhaps the county can compromise with us unhappy residents and replant substantial trees in replacement of the ones chopped down. Until then, we will sit back and watch history be removed off of Wall St. and prepare for a fast-moving “highway”. I can only hope the tree’s in front of our house will make it through this devastating stimulus project.