By Sara Beth Williams–
Much of the green space, including some mature trees along Auburn Boulevard from Rusch Park to the northern city limits, is now lying vacant, leaving some to wonder why this is so.

Previous landscaping along the boulevard included trees, grass and other plants, but many of those trees have been removed in the weeks since groundbreaking for the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets revitalization project in late July.

City Engineer Leslie Blomquist said in an email Wednesday that removing landscaping and street trees is a necessary part of the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project.

“Due to necessary underground utility work, sidewalk widening and site slope challenges, 58 trees must be removed, many of which are in poor or critical condition,” Blomquist said, adding that the project includes widening sidewalks, removing obstructions such as utility poles and widening the road to accommodate new bike lane markings.

Phase two of the Complete Streets project began nearly a decade after the first phase was completed. Blomquist said in an interview last month that phase two was designed as a “continuation of the improvements” along Auburn Boulevard that began at Sylvan Corners and continued to just past the intersection of Antelope Road and Auburn Boulevard.

Plans for landscaping in the current phase include similar aesthetic considerations to phase one, such as decorative street lighting, a landscape buffer between the sidewalk and the street where possible, and more trees. Blomquist said plans for phase two include planting 103 new trees, as well as shrubs and ground cover, “to ensure a robust urban forest for future generations.”

“When the road was built, it was not a planned construction, it was done piecemeal,” Blomquist said, adding that the roadway is “very old” and not a uniform width. The project aims to create a uniform roadway width from phase one to phase two, Blomquist said.

New medians are also planned for much of the roadway, allowing space for more trees and other plants. Blomquist said the medians will create a more “attractive” atmosphere while increasing safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Medians with designated turning lanes will allow motorists to be directed to specific places to turn, Blomquist said.

In the years leading up to the project, several businesses raised concerns about accessibility caused by the creation of medians, according to previous reports. To address those concerns, Blomquist said the city worked with all businesses along the corridor to the city limits and created truck turn templates to ensure there are “appropriate and safe paths” for large trucks to enter and exit businesses along the boulevard when necessary.