File photo by Craig Howell The project to expand capacity at Weirton’s wastewater treatment plant, pictured here under construction in March, is almost complete.

WEIRTON — The project to expand the capacity at Weirton’s wastewater treatment plant is coming to a close.

Jesse Alden, project manager from Thrasher Engineering, announced during Thursday’s meeting of the Weirton Sanitary Board that the gathering of representatives of Triton Construction, the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, sanitary staff and the state Department of Environmental Protection held Thursday may have been the final one in relation to the project.

“The last progress meeting, today, may potentially be our last,” Alden said. “We’re nearing the end of the project.”

The wastewater treatment plant project, designed to expand treatment capacity from 4 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons per day, had a contract price of $38,572,670.37, with Alden noting the budget for the contract stood at 98.7% complete.

The resident project representative budget, which involves monitoring of the project by the engineering firm, has been almost fully expended, he said, noting Thrasher representatives have only been on-site for specific needs.

“We did issue substantial completion on April 16,” Alden said, adding the final payment date is being determined.

The project still has $320,000 of its $1.68 million contingency fund, with plans to use the money on various odds and ends.

“We’ve been working with staff to get through the wish-list items,” Alden said, explaining there had been a few extra projects at the plant, not originally planned as part of the project, being tackled in an effort to expend all of those funds.

Alden said, though, the designed aspects of the project have been completed, with new equipment operational. The remaining work is primarily focused on paving and groundwork.

When asked about the possibility of a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion, Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni said there remains some work to do.

“We’re not quite there yet,” he said, adding they could discuss options soon.