Question
I'm working with a entryway that is 43ftlong and 2.5 ft wide.which runs along a drive way and wooden stairs. western exposure at best. Zone 4. I.m looking for a columner plant for some privacy and also shrubs that will not over run the narrow walk as it does get wet and stays wet do to a lack of sunlight . The plantings now are spirea. Juniper and burning bush all have out grown this area and need replacing with something low maintaince for my client. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hello, Fay.  Quite a design challenge: narrow space, harsh zone, and part-shade.  
Here goes: for Columnar/privacy - Cloumnar dwarf Canandian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis 'Monler')

http://www.monrovia.com/learn/plant_catalog/detail.php?id=2265

If you want "super" columnar screen (10' - 15' height), I'd suggest the Blue Arrow Juniper (Juniperus virginiana 'Blue Arrow') or risking a zone 5 sky pencil Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'/'Sky Sentry'), which if planted in a protected area (not not the east/north exposures) should do OK.

As for your 40' x 2.5' walkway planting - I'd try using these evergreen/semi-evergreens:  Dwarf Barberry (the Crimson Pygmy or 'Nana', NOT the big ones!), Korean Boxwood (Buxus microphylla koreana 'Winter Gem' or 扺intergreen?, or a dwarf Yew like "Taunton Yew" (Taxus x media 'Tauntonii') which is the best yew shrub for regions with severe winters. (gets 3' wide, but is slow-growing and easy to maintain)

Sorry the Juniper didn't work out - Maybe it was the original juniper variety chosen that was just too big for the space.  Sad, as there are lots of others that may have worked, but now the client is probably averse to using any more of that type of plant.

Hope this helped ~Marc