Guilford Begins Planting 100 Trees Along Route 77: Details

GUILFORD, CT — The town of Guilford will begin planting 100 new trees along Route 77 this week as part of a project designed to enhance one of the town’s main gateways and strengthen its green infrastructure. The planting was scheduled to get underway on Monday.

The work will begin at the intersection of Whitfield and Water streets and continue north to the Interstate 95 interchange. The planting, which is expected to take about two weeks, will cover Whitfield, Broad and Church streets from the southwest corner of the Green to the highway.

Originally scheduled for spring, the project was postponed due to delays in obtaining a Connecticut Department of Transportation permit and unseasonably warm summer temperatures, Guilford Tree Warden Kevin Magee said.

The installation and initial maintenance costs are being funded through a grant approved by the Board of Selectmen from the town’s allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Magee said the new trees—predominantly native species—will be planted where overhead wires allow, while smaller native and non-native ornamental trees will be used in other areas to complement existing landscaping. Each location and species has been staked within the state right of way.

Temporary parking restrictions will be in place along Whitfield Street during the project, and drivers should expect minor traffic disruptions on Church Street (Route 77).

In its application to the Board of Selectmen, the Tree Advisory Board cited the U.S. Forest Service and the Arbor Day Foundation in highlighting the environmental and social value of street trees. Trees, the board noted, help clean air and water, store carbon, provide cooling and habitat for wildlife, and contribute to mental health and community well-being.

Trees are also a good investment of public dollars and allow for increased property values, prosperity and desirability in Guilford, and aesthetics, the board noted.