Time to tackle Thomas St.

SANDUSKY — Sandusky officials recently got the details straightened out on a project to align a somewhat crooked section of street. During a recent public meeting, city commissioners began to pursue a job on realigning Thomas Street's road base and sidewalks just off Hayes Avenue (Ohio 4) near the underpass. "In anticipation of the recreation center and the newly constructed tennis courts, staff has worked to develop improvements along Thomas Street to enhance pedestrian and vehicular traffic along this route," according to a city memo. The upcoming project largely consists of: • Installing new sidewalks along Thomas Street's east side, stretching from Buchanan to Rockwell streets • Realigning Thomas Street between Pierce and Rockwell streets "With the installation of new sidewalks along the east side of the road, staff took their due diligence in alignment not to affect any current driveways and alter the alignment in some locations to avoid utilities and match existing crosswalks," the statement read. "There are a handful of trees that will be removed as part of the sidewalk installation, but staff will work on a replacement plan for the trees." The project estimate totals $50,000, a cost coming from local funds. And all work, meanwhile, should finish by Dec. 31. This project helps to better connect this area, one home to Firelands Health's campuses, Sandusky High School, the tennis courts and forthcoming rec center. "We often try to think of the larger picture when planning our projects, which is why we want to improve the connectivity from Sandusky intermediate and high schools to the new recreation center," city public works director Aaron Klein said. "We feel that Thomas (Street) may be a more attractive route for students who are walking to the facility or to tennis matches after school, since Hayes will obviously be much busier," he added. "We certainly don't want students walking in the streets or on private property, so adding sidewalks and straightening the curve near Rockwell will make it safer. There are no sidewalks on either side of the two blocks of Thomas Street, but we are only adding them on one side for financial purposes."