Six months after an expected summer start date, Virginia Department of Transportation crews began replacing damaged sections of sidewalk and curb-and-gutter drainage infrastructure along Smithfield’s Grace Street on Dec. 3.

The work included cutting down several trees within VDOT’s right-of-way, among them the two 50-plus-year-old pin oaks flanking the entrance to the Christian Outreach Program building in the 400 block, which likely date to the circa-1970 building’s construction.

The COP building was originally the county’s health department.

“As part of the Grace Street drainage improvements work, the removal of a total of eight trees along Grace Street in the vicinity of the Isle of Wight Christian Outreach Program is necessary due to damage sustained from the trees to the surrounding drainage and sidewalk structures that would have continued to damage to the newly replaced infrastructure once completed,” said VDOT spokeswoman Kelly Alvord. “Additionally, the full-depth reclamation (FDR) road reconstruction would have caused irreparable damage to the trees’ roots due to their proximity to the roadway, which would have compromised the survivability of the trees, given their maturity. Removal of these trees enables us to repair the affected sidewalk, curb and gutter, while also mitigating the risk of future damage or hazards posed by these trees.”

Christian Outreach Executive Director Rick Rowlands said he’d heard about the plan to cut down the trees last summer, which he said in his opinion had been a nuisance due to leaves and falling branches.

“If they plant some more attractive, smaller trees it would be a big improvement,” Rowlands said.

The work is intended as a first phase of the eventual repaving of the two-lane road, expected to begin in 2026. VDOT says replanting shouldn’t occur until after the repaving is complete.

“To ensure the long-term integrity of the improved roadway, sidewalks and drainage systems, there are no plans to replace these trees in the same locations,” Alvord said. “Additionally, to minimize impacts to the road reconstruction or any potential future landscaping, planting in this area should not occur until after the full FDR process is completed in the second phase of this road rehabilitation work.

According to VDOT, the sidewalk and curb-and-gutter work will occur primarily along sections of Grace west of its intersection with Institute Street and on James Street between Grace and Washington streets.

VDOT, in a Dec. 3 news release, said motorists should expect delays during peak travel times due to intermittent daytime lane closures under flagger control on Grace and James streets from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Daytime street parking may also be temporarily limited. A short-term full closure of both lanes will be necessary toward the end of the first phase to allow for the final placement of a new drainage pipe across Grace Street with a signed detour in place.

Access to private and business properties will be maintained at all times with all work performed within existing right-of-way.

According to VDOT, the first phase will also include correcting the slope of damaged and sunken sections of curb and sidewalk, placement of eight new drainage structures, and the repair of damaged sidewalks and entrances within the right-of-way. This work includes the removal of some trees adjacent to the sidewalk within the right-of-way.

The first phase is expected to be complete by early 2025.

VDOT, which had originally planned to repave Grace Street this year, announced the two-phase approach on May 30, citing drainage issues and the concurrent rehabilitation of the Cypress Creek Bridge.

Since January, the Cypress Creek Bridge that connects downtown Smithfield with the east end of town has been restricted to a single westbound lane, with eastbound traffic diverted to the Route 10 Bypass via Main and Grace streets.

According to VDOT’s Dec. 3 news release, the state agency delayed the Grace Street repaving “until crews could first proactively address these critical drainage and structure repairs that were necessary to ensure the final delivery of a high-quality, long-lasting roadway product for the community.”

While Smithfield’s Town Council had discussed delaying the Grace Street repaving due to rush-hour traffic jams on Main Street that have resulted from the restricted bridge, Mayor Steve Bowman in May said the council had asked that the repaving of Grace begin on schedule. Town Manager Michael Stallings, in May, said VDOT had requested a meeting with town officials that month during which VDOT identified issues with the drainage system serving Grace Street that would necessitate delaying the repaving.

VDOT “is currently defining the scope and project design plans for the second phase” slated for 2026 and “will advertise and execute a contract for the full surface rehabilitation of Grace Street using the innovative and cost-effective FDR process,” VDOT’s Dec. 3 news release states.

Full depth reclamation, or FDR, entails pulverizing recycled asphalt from the existing roadway, mixing it with a stabilizing agent and relaying the material as a base layer over which new asphalt is poured.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:50 p.m. on Dec. 9 with additional details from VDOT and from Isle of Wight Christian Outreach on the trees cut down in front of the COP headquarters.