A project to replace crumbling sidewalks in downtown Carman will, in fact, happen this year. Work hit a snag in spring after backlash over a decision to remove about eighteen trees in order to properly replace sidewalks along 1st Street Southwest.

Mayor Bob Mitchell said the concrete contract has been awarded to Carman Bobcat and Excavating, with work on the west side of the street set to start this fall.

He admitted this will involve the removal of six trees but was quick to add that new, smaller trees will be planted in their place.

New lighting will also be installed along the street.

A special committee has worked with opponents of the original plan to create a map, plotting out a new strategy for the area.

"(Manitoba) Hydro came down and determined where lights should go, and the town committee had mapped out that block and determined where trees are now and where they should go to be least disruptive to business," explained Mitchell.

The map also indicates where decorative planters will be placed.

"We got input from a lot of the local people...like the garden club and such," added Mitchell. "A lot of people fed us pictures of different places they'd seen trees, downtown lighting, and benches and that kind of thing. So we tried to incorporate all of that into what we're doing."

The Mayor noted that part two of the sidewalk project will resume again in the spring.