Construction Alert: New Sidewalk, Trees Along 4th and Wells In Downtown Renton

Watch for roadwork over the next week or two along South 4th Street and Wells Avenue South.

Following the removed of 16 mature Little Leaf Linden trees, the City is working to repair the sidewalk and re-plant 20 news trees: Persian Parrotia along Wells, and a different varietal of Little-Leaf Linden along 4th. 

Three of the original trees remain for now; however, they will likely need to be removed in the next five years.

"The trees that were chosen get very large," said Renton's Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Manager, Terry Flatley, of the trees that were planted 24-to-25 years ago. As the trees matured, the root crowns became too big for the 3-foot-by-3-foot sidewalk planters, pushing the curb out and buckling the walkway.

The new trees are of a different varietal that grow up instead of out, he said, and the new sidewalk planters will be 4-foot-by-8-foot to allay for years of growth.

Funding for the new trees and sidewalk repair are from the City's Capitol Improvement Programs budget, he said, adding that the project was identified last year.

City Crews are expected to start pouring the new sidewalks on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.