KENNEBUNK — A series of comprehensive improvements have begun on Boothby Road, but due to citizens’ concerns, certain natural roadblocks will likely stand pat: A series of oak trees, providing a canopy for the roadway, that range from between 100 to 225 years old.

Shoulder improvements, application of a base coat, drainage adjustments, road widening and new signs are among the makeovers slated for Boothby, and originally, trees were scheduled to be removed to help facilitate the work. But in October, protests from members of the public prompted selectmen to request that alternative plans be considered to preserve what locals felt was a distinct historical character.

Town Engineer Chris Osterrieder said last week that handling the improvements without disturbing these distinctive landmarks would be a challenge, necessitating a roadway that narrows at certain points to accommodate for the trees. This would be feasible, he said, if Central Maine Power were contacted to coordinate the relocation of several utility poles in the area.

Still, Osterrieder said that “Road Narrows” signs would be necessary to warn motorists of changing topographical characteristics that would cause Boothby Road to be narrower than is desirable at points.

“My take is that you’re going to condition drivers to understand the nature of the road,” he said.

Town Manager Barry Tibbetts praised how comprehensive the report submitted by Osterrieder was, which detailed the feasibility of certain enhancements.

“There are a number of signage recommendations in there,” said Tibbetts. “There also needs to be some potential drainage work … in a couple of different places.”

Tibbetts also highlighted the possibility of adding a guardrail in front of one tree in particular, which juts out into the roadway, farther than the rest. He said the guardrail could be made of wood, rather than the steel used for turnpike guardrails.

In his report, however, Osterrieder warned that such a feature may not be optimal, noting that only two motor accidents have occurred in the vicinity of the tree in recent memory ”“ neither caused by the tree itself.

“Avoiding the use of an additional roadside object would best assimilate the prior road conditions,” he wrote. “Until the extent of the utility pole relocation can be established, the preference would be to avoid any effort to utilize a guardrail. Due to limited width of the travel way, placement of a guardrail could negate the effect of any gain in travel way width and correspondingly result in an even narrower roadway feel.”

Osterrieder said follow-up observations would be needed to determine if the changes have the desired effects.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 319 or jlagasse@journaltribune.com.