Contractors are removing about 100 trees along Highway 20 near Coupeville to make room for a future road project, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Tom Pearce, spokesman for the department, explained that Puget Sound Energy will have to move some power lines because of the project, so the trees will have to go.

The trees are in the area of the Island County transfer station.

The $5.8-million project is designed as a safety-improvement project, though residents in the area have questioned wisdom on the plan. It was supposed to be done this year but was put off to next spring or early summer because of a delay in property acquisition.

The project would close the intersection at Parker Road and the highway. Parker Road would be rerouted to Morris Road, which intersects with the highway just south of the current Parker Road intersection.

Left-turn lanes would be added on the highway at Morris Road and the county transfer stations.

The intersection of the highway and Smith Prairie Road would also be closed. In addition, the project calls for bus turn-outs on both sides of the highway near Morris Road.