Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 44 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
photo by Marcus Frazier
Naked trees speckle the landscaping around the Natchez Trace Bridge over Liberty Road. The Mississippi Department of Transportation and the City of Natchez are in negotiations to remedy the neglected foliage.
Bridge greenery dying
Published Tuesday, June 3, 2008
NATCHEZ — The expansive landscaping that surrounds the Liberty Road bridge is slowly dying from lack of attention and water.
The City of Natchez and the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the agency that built the bridge, are in negotiations about under whose umbrella that responsibility falls.
City engineer and superintendent of water works David Gardner said right now the city is supplying that intersection with water.
“Water is not an issue at all,” Gardner said. “It’s always been there and it’s always been turned on so that’s not a problem.”
He said the city doesn’t take issue with supplying water for the landscaping, but the city doesn’t know who with MDOT is responsible for controlling the water.
“We just need to know if you have a break out there, who’s going to fix it?” Gardner said.
Darrell Broome, District 7 engineer, said it is MDOT’s responsibility.
“We are responsible for the interchange,” Broome said.
Nellie Wimberly, Natchez project engineer for MDOT, said the same thing.
“Ultimately, it’s MDOT’s responsibility,” she said.
Right now, the department has contracted someone to take care of the landscaping, but Wimberley and Broome both said MDOT will be taking over full responsibility soon.
The last task the contractor will complete, Wimberly said, is to replace the six or seven dead trees and around 40 dead bushes by the bridge.
Gardner said right now the city is talking with MDOT to try to figure out the other responsibilities.
Gardner said MDOT has requested the city provide prison labor to weed the area and also to take care of the streetlights by the bridge.
“They’ve requested we take some of the responsibility,” Gardner said. “We’re taking their request under consideration.
“All those decisions haven’t been made yet and until that’s worked out, it’s the department of transportation’s responsibility.”
Broome agreed.
“It’s something we do talk with the city about since they are involved with the project but as far as responsibility, we’re responsible to see it getting done,” Broome said.
Gardner said as far as planting bushes and trees and laying mulch, the city is not equipped to do that.
“As far as the heavy stuff, the plants and all that, MDOT is looking to maintain that themselves,” Gardner said.
Janet Sullivan, assistant to MDOT commissioner Wayne Brown, said the department will continue mowing the area.
As far as everything else, that’s still be discussed.
“We haven’t gotten everything ironed out on that completely,” she said. “We’re still in negotiations.”
Gardner said regardless of who is responsible, it’s important to keep one of the major entrances to Natchez looking nice.
“We want to make sure everything is maintained real nice,” he said. “We’re proud of that intersection.”
Comments
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 12:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, by all means let's keep talking about it until the stuff dies and then no one will have to worry about it...somebody do something, at least temporarily...c'mon, David, I know you are a common sense kind of guy, can you convince someone to put their finger in the dike?
Just as a side note...the magnolias and crepe myrtles are planted way too close aren't they?...they'll have to be culled eventually.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How much was spent on this landscaping? But, of course how dare anyone do something that isn't there job...
Yes sammohon they are way to close.....
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
fire...it depends on the state requirements and the contract, but typically it's about 2% to 5% of the total budget that is dedicated to landscaping...I've been down there, the sprinkler heads are there...someone needs to turn them ON!
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How hard could it be to turn them on no matter who's job it is.....2 to 5% i am sure adds up to a good bit of money...
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 1:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Were sprinklers installed? If so, are they set automatically, or does someone have to turn a valve?
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 1:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They could be automatically controlled by a soil humidity sensor running off solar power.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 1:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All the talking should have been done and taken place before the first plant was shipped to the location. Now, its kind of like an 'unplanned pregnancy'.
Oh, no. Baby is born and it's hungry! Quick, look in the fridge and see if there is anything left for it to eat. Oh, hunny, baby messed. Do we have any diapers? Who's responsible for getting diapers? Maybe we should have discussed this before the baby was delivered.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 4:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I still say Oleander shrubs would be great. You see them behind Dairy Queen, they are all over the coast towns and even in the desert.
They stay Green all year, and in the spring they flower. They require VERY LITTLE water and care.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 5:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They would be nice ntzmom. And you are right NtzMom.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Analysis paralysis.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, thank you, thank you ND for reporting this neglect of what should be a nice entrance point for visitors coming into our city. I have been riding by the median everyday by the railroad tracks just under the trace overpass and have been appalled at the weeds that were growing up. They were three feet high, no joke! Someone just cut them a few days ago for the first time in several months (maybe since grass started growing back in the spring). I believe that if you are going to have this type of beautification project, you must be resolved to keep it maintained.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are plenty of sprinklers in the median on the bridge, too many in fact. The lower area looks like its just not being maintained and its looks dry in alot of area too. Its sad to spend so much money on this and not take care of it.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow...so I suppose no one thought about the possibility of REAL greenery DYING?
pla-eeze!
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The irrigation system runs at night, y'all haven't seen it? Also, ntzmom, I'm pretty sure there ARE oleanders out there. The article said they were going to replace the dead plants, and 47 out of the thousands that are out there doesn't seem bad to me.
The only epidemic death I see out there is the winter grass. I saw them planting more grass out there last week. I hope it grows!
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sammohon: Did you know the new site requirements of the city planning department require a tree every 20 square feet? I don't think the trees at Liberty Road are planted nearly that close, whether they're too close or not. I'm not a landscaper, so I don't know what too close is! I think the crepe myrtles on St. Catherine are too close.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You only get one chance to make a first impression . Presentation is everything . If we want to grow and bring people ( money) into this town we have to take care of and put some pride into our town. The landscaping is great and we need even more . It could actually generate a few jobs.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think all these questions of who should do what and when, should have been worked out long ago. This is a prime example of what happens when goverment bodies don't have their ducks in a row or a business plan in place. NEGLECT, WASTE, The taxpayers paid for those trees that are dying or will have to pay for the ones that will have to be culled because of lack of planning ahead. Everybody should remember this when they go into the voting booth today!
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
for the love of Christ is it even too hard to get a few buckets of water and toss them out there in the short term???
Crimony. SHUT UP AND DO SOMETHING ALREADY.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Look at the picture! The more I look at it the madder I get. Dead tree, brown grass. Look at the weeds at the bottom of the tree. Look in the background behind the car at the concrete under the bridge. Couldn't anyone get out there with a blower or a broom and clean that mees up. I am more for getting a broom or blower and using it at city hall downtown. Clean that place up and we wouldn't have so much mess and neglect around town. Thank you Natchez Democrat for being pro active, keep up the heat! I wonder how bad this would have gotten if you guys would not have written a story about it. See, it is not that hard for what you guys write to make a big positive impact to help better Natchez. I would much rather see this type of jounalism on the front page than a kid playing in the water. When people from out of town who visit here and read our paper they will know this type of mess and neglect is not the norm or acceptable around here. Keep up the good work! Maybe someone down there is starting to listen to me! LOL
Posted by asandbb22 (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
((NatchezEnema))Pay careful attention to the picture and notice this is not the Liberty Rd. Bridge.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What are you talking about, IT IS. Pay careful attention and read at the bottom of the picture! Regardless, the trace is all paid for with tax money!
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems like a Cop-Out on the part of MDOT and the City of Natchez!
Posted by asandbb22 (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You pay careful attention that is the the Natchez Trace bridge further down on Liberty Rd. past the baseball fields. That is not the bridge that MDOT built at the interchange.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is the difference? A damn mess is a mess!
Posted by blablabla (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yaw 2 funny! Don't cry over spilled milk. The problem will get addressed. LOL
Posted by asandbb22 (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The difference is that you were wrong, and the ND can twist stories the way they like.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's funny! I didn't even notice the picture was of the Trace bridge! So that's not even one of the new trees. Although it may reinforce the point ND was trying to make, they could have done that with a picture of any dead tree anywhere, even in another town.
The ND has uncovered the fact that there is not a plan to maintain the intersection once the contractors are gone. They have also discovered -and printed- that plans are being made. The irrigation system is ON, it waters at night.
Maybe their attention to the matter will prevent neglect that would have happened, and maybe MDOT was going to cover it anyway. There's sure nothing in the article that says they weren't.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, now I'm wondering if the Democrat was interviewing people about the NATCHEZ TRACE BRIDGE, and everyone they talked to thought they were talking about the LIBERTY ROAD BRIDGE. Lots of locals get the two confused, and don't even remember that they were two different projects, one federal and one state.
Posted by scarlettohara (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, Triscuit. I agree. I pass by the new area (the one referenced in the text of the article) almost daily. I do not, however, normally find myself near the bridge that was pictured along with this story.
I have not noticed any of the new landscaping dying yet -- and I do look at it every time I pass because I think it's so pretty. I'll have to take a closer look next time I drive through.
Democrat, please clarify this discrepancy. I don't want to think you'd be intentionally misleading.
Posted by scarlettohara (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just drove through the area (the new Liberty Road bridge area)and I don't see any signs of dying plants/flowers. Maybe I'm blind, or missing something.
I did see one small dead tree, but all the others looked fine.
Again, Democrat, please clarify this story.
Posted by Tris (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Gardner said that it is inportant to keep one of the major entrances to Natchez looking nice. I am sorry but I think we should keep all of Natchez and the entrances to Natchez looking nice. Yesterday I made a trip across the river and back. I must say I was shocked at the amount of trash and garbage along both sides of the road. It seems that there are way to many people who think Natchez is a trash can. Did I not read in the democrat that litter laws were going to be enforced? Well it is not being done. Every day my husband picks up trash in our yard that has been tossed from cars. All over Natchez you see fast food trash. Something needs to be done to clean up our city. Maybe the new Mayor will do something. Not only the entrances but all over town.
Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember past articles where politicians were proposing a large new recreation facility to attract more sporting events to Natchez. Arguments ensued that there was no money in the budget to build this facility. This was followed by people saying that the cost of building wasn't the only thing to consider. Maintenance cost had to be considered also. Security, grounds keeping, painting, etc., etc, needed to be planned for in the initial planning stages. Once again, with the mayoral election, a recreation facility is being talked about as a campaign promise. The budget needs to cover it all, maintenance and building and responsibility for both should be clear.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I observe what you observe, scarlettohara. There's very little at the new interchange that could be classified as "dying," except maybe the winter grass.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
triscuit...I haven't read the newest city regs on landscaping, but I'll take your word about the 20SF requirement...seems a bit silly to me though...some trees are compact and can be planted that close...but live oaks and standard magnolias spread over much larger areas at maturity...the ones I was concerned about were the magnolias, even if they are of the dwarf variety they look like they are planted about 6 to 8 feet apart...far too close for them all to survive.
Posted by bellesouth (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That sprinkler company installed all of the sprinklers in one little spot - one every foot and then there were none left over for the rest of the site.
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on June 3, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can only say one thing........... MIRACLE GROW!
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 2:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I might be wrong, but this looks like the bridge over North Palestine Road. There is not that much forest close to the overpass on Liberty Road. Marcus, were you lost when you took that picture?? LOL
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 3:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good eye Frog...LOL that Picture is NOT the new Liberty Road over pass! OMG
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez make up your mind do you want progress or green grass? Sometimes we have to sacrifice one thing for another & in the is case it looks like human progress has over taken God's green nature.
Before we cry there are many remedies like the Oleander shrubs. That would really be nice & requires only nature's care after they have taken root.
Heck at the rate Natchez is spending money to spruce up the entrances of the historical city go all out & use more tax payers money for artificial turf. No watering, no mowing, no sweating for the Garden Club women, always green, keeps the deer off the side of the road & pretty year round. Natchez could be know as the "Artificial Turf City of America." See there's a remendy for everything with a high price.
Posted by Preacher (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel bad for the one dead tree, but the tree and shrub problem in Natchez is about to get worse. No, not that they are dying, but that many are planted in 4 lane medians or too close to intersections that obstruct the view of drivers trying to crossover or enter lanes of traffic. In addition, when these beautiful Magnolias start shedding their huge leaves, the roadway is going to be a mess. Several of these traffic hazzards need to be removed immediately.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know, there are OLEANDERS at the Liberty Road/US 61 interchange. Really there are. I wouldn't keep repeating it if it wasn't true.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes there are Oleanders, Magnolias, Indian Hawthorne, daylilies, verbena, Crape Myrtles, Live Oaks, Liriope, spreading juniper of some type, and Cypress. I think, as a landscaper, they are way too close together and some will die. However right now, they are not doing to badly. However the ones down Liberty Rd. toward the Trace, Humane Society, etc. are really looking bad. I don't think the picture above is the Palestine Rd. because I pass under that one fairly often and it doesn't look familar. But it is sure not the Liberty Rd. intersection.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ntzmom...not so good an eye for you...it is the Natchez Trace Terminal Bridge, but not the Liberty Road Bridge.
freedom42...I agree with you and bow to your expertise..I was just going on what I knew from working with you guys.
The trees further down Liberty Road are on State ROW or City ROW? or are they privately planted?
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe they are on the State ROW. Everything was planted by an out of town company - don't know how they got the bid or how much since I didn't bid on it myself. They county has tried to get volunteers from the Master Gardeners to come clean out the medians, but so far no takers. The MG's are mostly women, many older, and don't need to be out on that median with cars flying past them.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)