GETTING CLOSER — Officials noted the project to expand capacity at Weirton’s wastewater treatment plant currently stands at 96% completion, with a substantial completion scheduled for the end of April on the $37 million project. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — If contractors continue at their current pace, the expansion of Weirton’s wastewater treatment plant could be finished within the next two months.

Jesse Alden, project manager of the Thrasher Group, explained during Thursday’s meeting of the Weirton Sanitary Board that, while a few weather-related days may be added to the contract schedule on the $37 million project, current estimates have a substantial completion date of April 24, with final payment due on May 24.

“This month was a very busy month,” Alden said. “We got over some major bumps.”

Work has been focused on completing preparations at the new headworks facility and the sequencing batch reactor, as well as the Post Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion systems, with various areas going through testing processes in preparation of the construction being completed in the next six to eight weeks.

“We’re going through all those startups,” Alden said, noting staff is being trained on the new equipment and procedures so they are prepared when all of the systems are ready.

It was noted, while the contract is considered 96% complete, the project has $907,000 remaining in its contingency funds, and officials have been looking at any additional work which may be performed at the plant under the existing contract.

“I wish all of my projects were in this shape at 96 percent,” Alden said, noting one bid alternative being planned is the replacement of rubber roofing located on the existing buildings at the treatment plant.

Responding to a question by board legal counsel, Dan Guida, Alden said there have been some instances where state or federal government entities have attempted to claw back unused funds, but he feels certain that won’t happen in this case.

The project broke ground in April 2024 with the goal of expanding the plant from its current treatment capacity of 4 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons per day.

Planning began in January 2019 when local officials were notified of interest in a large manufacturing company to locate in Weirton. At the time, officials noted the treatment plant, which was built in the 1960s, had little room for additional treatment capacity and would need the expansion to properly serve any new development in the community.