We’re certainly saddened that 15 deodora cedar trees with an
interesting history will likely be felled so that state officials
can replace, relocate and widen a bridge on scenic Hecker Pass
Highway.
We’re certainly saddened that 15 deodora cedar trees with an interesting history will likely be felled so that state officials can replace, relocate and widen a bridge on scenic Hecker Pass Highway.
Caltrans officials say that erosion by Uvas Creek has damaged the columns supporting the bridge, located just west of Burchell Road. They also say they’ve studied alternatives, but removing these trees – 15 of 115 total in what some people call “tree row” near the entrance to Bonfante Gardens – is their best plan.
“In order to move the bridge south and to conform with the existing roadway, we have to realign a portion of the roadway so we don’t have an unsafe curve in the road,” Caltrans engineer Jared Goldfein said. “The issue is one of safety.”
If it turns out that with a little effort and ingenuity, those 15 deodora cedars can be saved, we predict that Caltrans will get an earful from angry Gilroyans.
That said, we’re anxiously awaiting the release of Caltrans’ environmental review for this project at the end of the month and the public meetings in mid July. Until then, we’re witholding final judgment of Caltrans’ plans.
But given the trees’ special history – they were planted in 1930 and 1931 by community members including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts – and the community’s attachment to the Hecker Pass area, we hope that Caltrans has its facts and analysis in order.
We think Joel Goldsmith was right when he told reporter Serdar Tumgoren, “How strong that reaction (to Caltrans’ tree-cutting plans) will be is going to depend on how solid their reasoning is to take them out.”
If it turns out that state officials are correct in their conclusion that the trees must be felled, then we urge Caltrans to mitigate the loss. The 15 deodora cedars should be replaced with even more specimens of the same variety – trees that are at least 10 years old.
But that’s not all. Why not take this opportunity to create “new history” with the replacement trees? We urge the community and Caltrans to see to it that groups like FFA, 4-H, scouts or other service clubs participate in the replanting. Perhaps the beautiful trees that Michael Bonfante grows could become a part of a solution.
Other ideas could also be considered, including having trees planted by local families with servicemen serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s also look to the future, making sure to plant the new trees far enough back to accommodate future road work and road widening.
Though we don’t advocate saving these 15 trees at any cost, the value of keeping our only scenic gateway scenic should be taken into full account when the cost-benefit analysis is done. The Caltrans plan should receive full scrutiny from our elected officials to make sure the history and the grandeur of the trees are well considered.
