Ribbon-Cutting Held for Work on Thies Avenue, Schutzbach Street, Airport Road

(A GROUP OF CITY, COUNTY, STATE AND INDUSTRY LEADERS GATHERED WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR A RIBBON-CUTTING FOR AN EXTENSION OF THIES AVENUE AND A DEDICATION OF SCHUTZBACH STREET AS WELL AS MARKING COMPLETION OF A RECONSTRUCTION OF AIRPORT ROAD. EFFINGHAM MAYOR MIKE SCHUTZBACH, FOR WHOM SCHUTZBACH STREET IS NAMED, SNIPPED THE RIBBON)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday morning to mark completion of the reconstruction of Airport Road and an extension of Thies Avenue as well as the dedication of Schutzbach Street. 

Schutzbach Street, named in honor of Effingham Mayor Mike Schutzbach, reflects the north-south portion of the project that better serves John Boos and Company and opens up a larger portion of property for economic development. 

Further economic development opportunities could result if a project proposed last week would allow a westerly extension of Airport Road. The City already owns a large tract of land in that area that extends west to the IC Railroad. 

The project unveiled Wednesday cost $2,250,000, with more than $2 million of the cost secured through grant funds. Work on the project began in 2020. Effingham City Engineer Luke Thoele reminded that not all of the project could be seen since it also involved construction of water and sewer lines as well as the street.

City Director of Public Works Jeremy Heuerman said that City, County and State officials played a part in the completion of the project. Heuerman said, "It takes an army to complete a project of this size."