Beginning this month, the Town of Bristol, in partnership with Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Energy, will participate in an Emerald Ash Borer remediation program.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a larvae that has slowly made its way to the northeast since its discovery in the United States in 2002. The larvae infests Ash trees causing the tree to wither and die. Once weakened, the trees can pose a public safety hazard.

Currently, 66 trees have been identified as a ‘severe threat’, ‘moderate threat’, or ‘slight threat’ due to their condition. These are located on Ferry Road, Hope Street and Michael Drive.

Under the partnership agreement, the identified trees will be removed by a professional tree service under the direction of Rhode Island Energy at no cost to the Town of Bristol. The logs from the trees located on Town roads will be placed at the site where it is cut and Bristol’s Department of Public Works crews will collect the wood and temporarily store it at one of the town’s facilities. The wood will then be hauled away by RIDOT. Wood from trees removed on state roads will be collected by RIDOT maintenance crews.

Once the infected trees have been removed, the town will remove the stumps and replace the trees.

Work will begin on Ferry Road in the beginning of June.

The project leaders have planned to complete the project as quickly as possible so as not to interfere with the Town’s Fourth of July activities.

Residents are asked for their patience and precautions as some of the work may impede travel along Ferry Road, Hope Street and in the Michael Drive neighborhood.