By james art 
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – New additions to Athens’ sewer system are being designed to support the growth of the western part of the city.
Services Safety Director Andy Stone said the city hopes to replace two elevator systems along Columbus Road and said the plan is to help prepare for Athens’ west side expansion.
“At the end of the day, it’s just going to be new infrastructure that’s going to support that region of the city,” Stone said. “We want Athens to grow and we need to plan infrastructure for that.”
One new lift station will be placed behind the Goodwill on Columbus Road and another down the road next to the In-Town Body Shop.
Mayor Steve Patterson said the city has already seen a lot of interest in land along Columbus Road.
“It really opens up opportunities for further development in the Columbus Road corridor,” Patterson said.
Stone said the infrastructure will also help the city prepare for population growth.
“We’d really like to be a place where businesses and residents who maybe have a connection not only to Athens, but maybe to central Ohio, come and live and work,” Stone said.
Construction hasn’t started, but Assistant City Engineer Jillian Garland hopes work on the project will begin soon.
“We’re hoping to have it sold and auctioned by the end of this year, if not early next year,” Garland said. “And then construction will begin during the upcoming construction season in the spring, summer.”
Garland said he does not believe construction of the new elevators will cause traffic delays for drivers on Columbus Road.