Since You Asked: Why was red-light camera removed at Ninth and E streets?

Q: Why has the red-light camera in Marysville at Ninth and E streets been removed? Is it gone permanently or will it come back at some point?

A: It was taken down to accommodate the ongoing Caltrans construction project at that intersection and it is definitely coming back, though nobody knows exactly when.

"There's no specific timetable for getting it back up again, but we're still working on those conversations," said Caltrans spokesman Gilbert Mohtes-Chan.

Marysville police Sgt. Chris Sachs said officers hope to get it back up and running sooner rather than later.

Temporary traffic signals have been installed as road crews work on electrical issues with the older-model traffic lights. Crews are also working on underground drainage issues, officials said.

The work is part of the a $48 million road-improvement project launched earlier this summer. All of the funding comes from state and federal governments, according to Caltrans.

Officials expect the full project will be completed in early 2015, but they hope to have the red-light camera back much sooner.

Q: Why were the oleander and other bushes recently cut down on the east end of Bridge Street as you approach the bridge? They provided a beautiful, green visual block to the embankment, not to mention an improvement to air quality. The embankment is now brown, barren and ugly. What was the logic behind this?

A: The oleander bushes were trimmed in July, but were not removed, according to George Musallam, director of the Yuba City Public Works Department.

"They're going to be maintained there, not taken out," Musallam said.

Musallam said the work was part of larger cleanup effort in the area over several days last month.

"That area just wasn't a good representation for the entrance to Yuba City," Musallam said. "We took out several truckloads of trash and debris from the area to improve the look."

Fire safety was one of the motives behind the removal of grass, weeds and other trash, but the move was mostly to make the area more attractive, the public works director said.

Since You Asked is published on Mondays. Send questions to reporter Rob Parsons at the Appeal-Democrat, 1530 Ellis Lake Drive, Marysville, CA 95901, email him at rparsons @appealdemocrat.com or call 749-4785.