Jeff Hill could open up again to traffic within a few years if funds come through, the head of the Athens Street Department said.
The project, which is estimated to cost about $250,000, would provide another route uptown and clean up the oft-muddied slope, said Director Andy Stone.
My main reason for replacing it is that it's an eyesore
Stone said.
Renovating the hill back into a road that provides access to Union Street is Stone's goal, one that he said he is fairly confident the department will be able to pay for through grants.
The road was permanently closed to traffic in 2002 after the water and sewer line beneath the bricks broke. These must be replaced first, Stone said, and would constitute the majority of estimated costs.
Jeff Hill's overall deterioration is because of water wearing down the steep hill, Stone said, adding that students walking across the path have little effect overall.
The water simply erodes it he said.
The bricks were completely removed and replaced with grass in 2006, mostly as a precaution. They were coming loose because of the broken pipes, and Stone said the department was worried students would get hurt.
Crews have worked about once a year since 2006 to mow and trim the grass in hopes of keeping it more presentable, at a cost of few hundred dollars each year. Because the hill is so shady and steep, grass has trouble growing steadily on it, Stone said.
Neither Mayor Paul Wiehl nor Service Safety Director Paula Horan Moseley could be reached for comment.
Although Stone said winter access on the steep road has long been dangerous, and could be again if it opens up, he said that problem is not confined to Union Street.
Welcome to Athens. We got it everywhere he said.
1
News
Ryan Dunn
28317a.jpg
Students walking up Jeff Hill soon could be accompanied by vehicles. The project would fix the
