Three or more good-size fir trees were removed on Rainier Boulevard recently, which raised some questions, given the recent unpopular tree cutting in Talus.

Kerry Ritland, with the city’s public works engineering department, said the trees were removed to widen the Rainier Trail through this section, from 8-feet wide to 12-feet wide. It’s part of the Rainier Boulevard Low Impact Development, which has been included in the city’s transportation plan for some time, he said.

The contractor, R.W. Scott Construction Co., will be tasked with 1,300 feet of roadway reconstruction with pervious asphalt pavement, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, landscaping, burying utilities, and 15-foot light poles, which is referred to as pedestrian scale lighting — the favored lighting in the Central Issaquah Plan.

This section of Rainier Boulevard fronts the new Confluence Park, which will get an additional 14 angled parking spaces along with parallel parking next to the trail.

The project was funded by grants, storm water utility funds and street improvement funds. The total cost is approximately $2 million.

The project is expected to begin during the first week of June, wrapping up by Salmon Days or sooner. This section of Rainier (between Dogwood and Holly streets) is heavily used during Salmon Days.