Old Agency project to clear trees underway

RIDGELAND — A month-long project to clear trees along Old Agency Road has begun.

Deep Roots Construction, a firm based out of Magee, has completed Phase I of the project to clear trees off the side of Old Agency Road and will move on to the next phases. 

The project is expected to take between three and four weeks to complete from one end of Old Agency Road to the other. Officials said the timeframe could be impacted by weather and other factors. 

The closures will occur in six phases and will be limited to the area where the contractor is working.

“The entire road will not be impacted at one time,”  according to Public Work Director Alan Hart. 

Construction times are limited between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to avoid the rush hour, Hart said. 

• Phase I covered the portion of Old Agency Road from the round-a-bout to Greenwood Crossing. 

• Phase II covers Old Agency Road from Greenwood Crossing to Windrush Drive.

The other phases are as follows and will begin when the contractor finishes the previous phase:

• Phase III of the project is set to span Dinsmoor Crossing to Whippoorwill Lane.

• Phase IV will cover Patterson Crossing to Whippoorwill Lane.

• Phase V will cover from Patterson Crossing to Wrenfield Way.

• Phase VI will cover Wrenfield Way to Livingston Road.

The contractor will periodically close one lane within work zones and will have flagmen to direct traffic around the crews, Hart said. There will be intermittent periods when the contractor will need to close both directions to ensure the safety of drivers and crews. 

“Drivers are encouraged to use caution around the crews removing the hazardous trees and to use alternative routes,” Hart said.

Hart said this part of a city-wide tree clearing project with a bid price of $975,000. Current projections have crews working to clear trees throughout the city through July 5.

“Everyone wants us to get the trees nearest them,” Hart said. He noted that the public response has been positive.

Deep Roots has already completed clearing trees in Friendship Park, which recently reopened after it had been closed since Jan. 21 for tree clearing, and near the retention pond near the Wendover and Montrachet neighborhoods.