Between bricks and blacktop, Athens infrastructure underwent scrutiny and study from government officials Saturday morning.
Andy Stone, Athens City director of engineering and public works, led City Council members and candidates on the city’s annual infrastructure tour, highlighting current and future engineering projects throughout the city.
Once the city completes current renovation projects already under design — such as the renovation of Oxbow Bridge and the installation of a bike path spur to University Estates, by October 2013 and October 2014, respectively — Stone said he is setting his sights on improving East State Street.
“There are some fairly big things coming up,” Stone said. “East State Street is going to need to be repaved and I want to put in sidewalks on the south side of the street.”
Without additional sidewalks on the street, the highest volume road in Southeastern Ohio, Stone said city officials would be endangering pedestrians who typically walk to retail stores and the Athens Farmers Market.
Besides commercial properties, the Athens Community Center and Pool attracts a considerable amount of children who would use the sidewalks, said Democrat Jennifer Cochran, City Council candidate.
“My own kids have almost been hit by cars at that intersection (of East State Street and Charles Street) multiple times,” Cochran said, adding that she hoped Athens Police Department officers would better enforce the speed limit on the road.
Though Stone said the repaving of East State Street would take place in about three years, he added that he has been considering tearing up asphalt on North Shannon Street and bricking the road.
Though the street is currently in disrepair, Stone said he is reluctant to brick the road because it would cost the city $45 for each square yard, four or five times the cost of repaving the asphalt.
“I had a petition signed by 40 residents of the street who wanted it to be brick,” Stone said. “It’s not a simple thing to peel off asphalt and make brick, though.”
Councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward, said the city should determine a uniform course of action to administer the repaving of streets in residential neighborhoods.
“If we do something, we should make it a model,” Fahl said. “Other places could want to do this.”
sh335311@ohiou.edu
