WEIRTON — After discussing the possibility in recent months, the Weirton Sanitary Board received confirmation Thursday of a delay to the completion of the ongoing expansion of its wastewater treatment plant.

Representatives of the Thrasher Group and main contractor Triton Construction had warned of the possibility of additional time being needed for the $37 million project, citing disruptions in international supply chains.

“We’ve known for a period of time they were going to do that,” reported Jesse Alden of Thrasher, during Thursday’s Sanitary Board meeting.

Alden explained Triton presented him with an official notification Thursday morning, prior to the board meeting, estimating a new substantial completion for the project in April, with a final payment due in May.

Originally, completion had been estimated for October, with the final payment in November. Alden explained the construction portion of the project will be completed in about four months’ time.

“The majority of the work is still scheduled for the end of January,” he said, noting the remaining delay was to wait for warmer weather to address restoration needs, including any seeding or mulching work on the property.

The board will be asked to approve the change in schedule at its October meeting.

Currently, construction stands at 76.4% completion, Alden said, with approximately 83% of the budget spent or allocated.

There also is $1.7 million remaining in the project’s contingency fund, with Alden saying he expects another change order to be processed in the coming months.

Over the last month, work included installation of the new ultraviolet disinfection unit.

“The unit is in operation and it’s working well,” Alden said.

Planning began for the project in January 2019 after city officials were notified of interest by a manufacturing company to potentially located in Weirton. The contract to Triton was awarded in February 2024 with the project designed to expand the treatment capacity of the plant from its current 4 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons.

In other matters, Thursday, the board approved a repair to a backup generator at the 5th Street lift station, at a cost of $4,402.92 by Western Branch Diesel, and a repair to the No. 2 Post-ATAD mixer unit for $11,215 by Precision Pump and Valve.

The Sanitary Board will next meet at 10 a.m., Oct. 16.