HAWLEY — The Highway Department plans to cut down roughly 81 trees and trim several more on the scenic byway stretch of Ashfield Road before mud season is in full swing.

“It has gotten to the point that they need to be cut or something has to happen to not be a liability,” said Highway Superintendent Gary Mitchell. “The road hasn’t been maintained since it was made into a scenic road in the 1980s.”

There is extra paperwork that must be filled out to maintain trees on scenic byways. Because of the additional work, the Highway Department has not done tree maintenance on Ashfield Road in roughly 40 years.

“The trees are in danger of coming down rather soon,” Mitchell said. He noted the Highway Department dealt with many downed trees during storms this winter, including several on Ashfield Road.

Mitchell alerted the Selectboard earlier this month about the potential danger on this stretch of road, and the final decision about the trees was brought to the Planning Board on Tuesday. After further explanation from Mitchell, the board decided it was in the town’s best interest to cut down the roughly 81 trees.

There are many hollow trees along the road, Mitchell noted, as well as tree limbs that stick out onto the roadway that could potentially endanger drivers. The scenic byway is 0.7 miles long, and Mitchell said many more trees line the road that do not have the potential danger of falling.

Concerned residents from towns outside of Hawley attended Tuesday’s meeting to voice their fears that the department will cut down the old maple trees on the road. However, those trees will remain standing, with the focus being on non-maples.

“Those trees need to come out to help with existing maples,” Planning Board Chair Kimberly Orzechowski explained. “We have confidence in the Highway Department doing the work.”

The trees in question have already been flagged for removal. The crew plans to begin the work next week, weather permitting. If the road is too muddy or the highway employees need to plow snow instead, the work will be postponed.

Any resulting firewood will be taken to the wood bank, located north of the elbow on East Hawley Road. Anyone is welcome to take wood from the public wood bank.

“The town needs to remain beautiful and rural,” Orzechowski said, “but also safe.”

Contact Bella Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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