A double row of flowering cherry trees that line a park in front of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem have been spared the ax.
Civil engineers determined that the roots of the cherry trees aren’t causing leaks in the state-owned Capitol Mall parking garage underneath the trees.
Turns out a failing roof membrane on the underground garage is the culprit, according to a report prepared by the engineers for the state. The membrane reached its life expectancy in 2015.
But the report indicates full replacement of the membrane is too expensive, so the engineers recommend improving existing irrigation and storm sewer systems to handle runoff.
The estimated price for those repairs comes in at about $4.7 million. The work would include strengthening the structure’s existing gravity load system.
Next steps, according to Liz Craig, who works for the state’s Department of Administrative Services, include figuring out how to pay for it all.
The Department of Administrative Services has been working with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which maintains the iconic trees, to resolve the issues while ensuring proper care for the trees.
-- Beth Nakamura
Twitter: @bethnakamura
Instagram: @bethnakamura