The City of Port Moody will plant 11 new native trees to replace five trees that must be removed to make room for the extension of the Murray Street bike path in front of Rocky Point Park.
Two of the trees, including one mature cedar near the dog park, are scheduled for removal sometime next week so hydro poles can be moved to accommodate the new path. To ensure birds who may have built nests in those trees aren’t disturbed, a nesting survey will be conducted 24 hours before they’re removed. The remainder of the trees including three ornamental cherry trees and one ornamental apple tree, as well as a boxwood shrub, will be removed in September after birds have finished their nesting season.
A mature Rhododendron that was also in the path of the new bike route has already been relocated to Pioneer Park.
The number of replacement trees is actually more than the 2:1 ratio the city requires under its corporate policy. If, for some reason, it can’t plant enough new trees, the city would contribute $700 per tree to its Urban Forestry Reserve so replacement trees can be planted elsewhere.
The new stretch of bike path will fill in the missing link of the Murray Street route from Electronic Avenue to the Moody Street overpass. Part of the path, from the overpass to Hugh Street, will be mixed used and separated from the roadway by a landscaped boulevard of grass and trees. The rest of the path will be separate walking and riding paths side-by-side.
The extension will make it easier and safer for cyclists and pedestrians passing the busy parking lot at Rocky Point Park. The project is budgeted to cost $602,000, some of which is coming from a TransLink grant. Construction is expected to begin in August and will take 8-10 week.
