Lafayette Avenue Reconstruction Meets Promised Deadlines

Reconstruction on Lafayette Avenue over the summer was met with an overall positive reactionby Chatham residents.

The project initially caused controversy due to the number of trees originally targeted for removal. The roots of some trees were causing the sidewalks to become hazardous to walk on. At the time of the original proposal, over 40 trees were to be removed.

Residents spoke out at a township council meeting earlier this year asking township officials to take a second look at which trees were necessary for removal. Township Mayor Nicole Hagner and Committee member William O'Connor walked Lafayette Avenue themselves to assess the situation. After further consideration the township committee decided that only 15 trees needed to be removed to meet the expectations of the original project.

The target date of completion for removing the trees, repairing the sidewalks and repaving the street by mid-August has been met, and the residents are happy.

Angelika Tesoro, who lives on Lafayette Avenue, said, "Of course it's the best thing to preserve nature, but sometimes the trees have to come down. The sidewalk needed to be fixed."

Brad Koehler, who also resides in the neighborhood, recalls falling down while jogging on the uneven sidewalks of Lafayette Avenue. "I'm glad they did repair those sidewalks, and cut down some of those trees," he said.

Some of the 15 trees will be replaced in the next planting season.