One of two long-planned utility improvement projects in Weirton looks to finally be moving forward.

Last week, officials with the Weirton Sanitary Board announced they are ready to enter the construction phase of a project which would double the capacity of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. A pre-construction meeting is planned for March 26, bringing together members of the board, contractors and others involved, with a ceremonial groundbreaking scheduled for April 11.

Discussion of a possible expansion began in 2018, with planning starting up in January 2019 with the formation of a utility task force to review the possibility of such a project. It was all in response to word of a large industrial operation considering Weirton for a facility, with officials saying they would need up to 500,000 gallons of treatment capacity.

That company moved on, but officials recognized the need to provide more capacity than its current 4 million gallons per day in the event other companies would target Weirton.

A similar project is still in the works for the city’s water treatment plant, with the Weirton Area Water Board finalizing a funding package and obtaining a new set of bids.

Much has changed in Weirton in the years since planning for these expansions began. Form Energy expects to open its first manufacturing facility later this year, Cleveland-Cliffs is set to idle the tin operation in Weirton next month, the Park Drive retail and residential development is under construction, and rumor of other companies is always circulating.

We don’t know what the future holds, but improving and expanding Weirton’s utility services is a necessary investment if more development is to take place. Larger companies want to know whether a community can support their operations, and that includes having adequate roads, electricity and municipal services.

We are glad to see these projects coming to fruition and look forward to the benefits they will provide for years to come.