Sanitary Board officials report the East Weirton Project will be wrapped up for the winter season and resume in the spring.

During the Weirton Sanitary Board meeting on Thursday, Assistant Director Kevin Board informed the board members and other staff the amount of funds still currently available is approximately $5,300 toward the $155,000 project. He said Halls Road from Harmon Creek Road to Eldersville Road was closed to all traffic from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. for sewer line repairs pertaining to the project.

Board said repairs to the road are going to be made and the project will resume again in the spring. He added the board will have about $3,000 to start up on the project next year.

"You guys are really making the dollars stretch on this project," said Vice Chairman Chuck Wright.

Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni previously stated he sat down with Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh; state Sen. Ed Bowman, D-Weirton, and West Virginia Department of Highways representatives. He said Bowman was able to get the attention of the WVDOH and is looking to see if some assistance could be provided.

"We got a response, but it was a negative response," said Mastrantoni. "District 6 Engineer Bob Whipp said fiscal constraints are deterring regular projects."

The department was prepared for roadway replacement with slag and such, but now it has to dig about 20 feet outside the shoulder of the road and underneath instead of surface cutting, the cost of the materials is much different.

Board officials said the problem was the longitudinal gas lines and placing them in the center of the road will keep the Sanitary Department from having to pay the fees to the gas companies, which want $5,000 up front for anticipated possible line breaks during the project and will have a person from the utility on site to determine whether or not the lines should be replaced.

The Sanitary Board has plans to continue to find a reasonably fiscal alternative to complete the project.

(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)