This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/27/2016 12:00 AMThe early summer sun was shining this morning in downtown Madison as a tractor trailer carrying large trees arrived. The trees, which are the first of over 33, will be planted as part of the Madison Center Project, phase one.
Mike Ott, town engineer for Madison along with landscape architects from Milone & MacBroom have been working closely with Winterberry Gardens, the nursery over the past two months to ensure the selected trees met important criteria. Ott a representative from Milone & MacBroom were on scene this morning to confirm quality during delivery.
Over 30 trees are expected to be planted this week, providing a new canopy over the newly installed sidewalks. The trees, which were specially selected to provide shade and foliage above most retail signs, replace trees that were removed at the start of the project last fall.
Recent visitors to town have likely noticed construction crews from Winterberry Irrigation working in the center median. The crews have been installing and testing new underground irrigation lines, which will ensure that all of the new plantings, on the sidewalks and in the center median are provided with the correct amount of water. This irrigation system is one of the first of its kind installed for a municipal street scape project.
Phase one of the project, which started last fall includes reconstruction of the sidewalks on both sides and the center median from Wall Street and Samson Rock Drive to the gas stations (Henny Penny and Cumberland Farms). This includes running underground utilities and irrigation as well as installation of new light poles, tree grates and bike racks.
Major construction of phase one, including the sidewalk tree plantings is expected to conclude this Thursday, June 30. To mark the occasion the public is invited to join merchants, elected and appointed officials for a ribbon cutting at 3:30pm.
The Town of Madison continue to pursue funding of the second phase of the project, which will bring the streetscape west from Cumberland Farms / Henny Penny to the intersection of Route 79.
Retail stores and offices have been open on their regular schedules while some parking spaces have been reserved for construction. Visitors to town are reminded that there is ample parking behind the south side of town, where both time restricted and unrestricted spaces can be found. Additionally there is parking on the north side of main street and behind the movie theater.
Business owners and employees are reminded to adhere to parking restrictions. The Madison Police Department now has a Community Service Officer downtown enforcing timed parking. Madison's main street, the west side of Wall Street and the parking area immediately behind RJ Julia's and People's Bank on the south side of main street have a two or three hour parking limit Monday – Friday and as posted. Untimed parking is available in the parking area just to the east of the Stop and Shop lot.
Ribbon Cutting Celebration
Thursday, June 30 at 3:30pm
Courtyard at 724 Boston Post Road, Madison
View the project update from the EDC Webcam, which is broadcasting live from the top of the Scranton Memorial Library at:
http://madisonedc.org/development/live-web-cam/
For more information on the project visit
www.MadisonEDC.org/downtown-center-project/