Athens is on the road toward becoming a more bike-friendly city.
During the next year and a half, the city of Athens is expected to overhaul three streets –– Lancaster Street, Columbus Road and South Richland Avenue –– in an attempt to increase bicycle, pedestrian and vehicle safety.
The Lancaster Street/Columbus Road project is slated to begin this July, said Andy Stone, director of Engineering and Public Works.
“It will incorporate a water line, sanitary sewer line and pavement replacement as well as restriping of the street,” Stone said.
Improving the terrain of Columbus Road –– which has been in a “rough” state for some time –– is a particular priority for city officials, said Mayor Paul Wiehl.
“It used to be the regular U.S. 33 route at one time, so it’s got jointed concrete slabs underneath,” Wiehl said. “So it’s gotten pretty bumpy there. Ask anyone who drives it.”
Though the surface will need an overhaul, Wiehl said city officials want to include a bike lane along the road if there is adequate space.
“I don’t know exactly what the design is going to be, but I do know there is talk about a median strip in the middle and I know there is talk about putting a bike lane on the uphill side,” Wiehl said.
Though the Lancaster Street/Columbus Road project funds will total $1.1 million, the South Richland Avenue plan will be a more costly endeavor –– with about $3 million needed for the development to take place, Wiehl said.
In Summer 2014, South Richland Avenue will see a complete overhaul intended to make it a “complete street,” Wiehl said, adding that he hopes to see bike lanes on each side of the road, if space allows.
“A complete street is one where you have sidewalks on either side; between the sidewalk and the street, you have a grass median, because you have a sense of safety, and while you’re at it, you add a bike lane on either side,” he said. “But there’s not a lot of space (on Richland Avenue) for a bike lane.”
In order to add at least one bike lane and still have room for vehicle turn lanes, Stone said he is planning on widening Richland Avenue by three feet, which will require tearing down streetlights currently in place.
“After we did a safety study, we ultimately landed on a typical section of widening the street about three feet,” he said. “Existing streetlights will have to be moved, so we’re going to try the more decorative streetlights like those on North Richland.”
Despite the plans that are currently in motion, the project can’t start unless the city raises another $2 million in grants, said Paula Horan-Moseley, service-safety director.
“We’re continuing in engaging with a design consultant for Richland South, because we have some money, but we need to look at the rest of our money in order to have the whole project,” she said.
sh355311@ohiou.edu
