WEIRTON -- Pending a vote Monday, the city is set to receive additional funds toward a long-planned industrial access road in the city.
As part of their meeting Wednesday morning, members of the Weirton Finance Committee recommended a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a $400,000 grant through the state Division of Highways' Industrial Access Road Program.
City Manager Mike Adams noted the city previously had been awarded funding through the fiscal 2021 round of grants and had submitted another application as part of the fiscal 2023 round.
"They considered our 2023 application and are making it a 2024 grant," Adams said, explaining the grant will be matched by a $150,000 contribution from the Frontier Group of Companies.
The grant, if approved, will be the latest round of funding awarded toward the costs of the long-discussed access road, which is planned to be constructed through property once occupied by Weirton Steel Corp. and its successors and now owned by the Frontier Group.
Plans have called for the road to have a southern entrance in the area of Cove Road and Weir Avenue, traveling north past the former site of Weirton Steel's basic oxygen plant, then heading west underneath state Route 2, with another access in the area of Pennsylvania Avenue. Eventually, the road would lead to Brown's Island.
The project was awarded a total of $4 million in Congressionally Directed Spending in 2022, with $1 million provided to the city and $3 million to the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission.
Another $1.5 million in federal funds were announced in 2023, provided to the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
When asked by Ward 7 Councilman Terry Weigel is access to the federal funds had eased, Adams admitted difficulties remained.
"It's complex," he said, explaining there have been hurdles with the use of the CDS dollars. "It's an administrative challenge."
He said the state funds, though, have been easier to obtain, and if there are questions on permitted uses, it often takes only a phone call to officials in Charleston for clarification.
Adams also reminded committee members that use of the funds isn't completely up to the city, explaining the Frontier Group, as well as Form Energy and the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, each have a seat at the table.
"We got the grants, but, ultimately, they're the property owners," he said.
The resolution will be presented to the full City Council for its consideration Monday. Council will meet at 7 p.m. in the Weirton Municipal Building.