Progress?

It was kind of sad when they uprooted the three nice old trees on Main Avenue this week, just up from my shop. Guess the roots were messing with the concrete.  But can you explain putting their bushy replacements square in the middle of the sidewalk right of way?

Two people can no longer walk down the sidewalk next to these trees abreast. In fact it will be hard enough for even one. What were they thinking? At least they could have offset the trees in the holes and pushed them out to the curb. I don't get it. Please explain...