PREPARING FOR A NEW SERVICE CENTER — A crew from Pulice Demolition of Weirton started knocking down the old Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. payroll office building near state Route 7 in the city. The property was purchased by Pilot Flying J company for construction of a travel center. — Dave Gossett
STEUBENVILLE — A demolition crew from Pulice Enterprises of Weirton started knocking down the old Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. payroll office building Wednesday to clear approximately 4 acres for a Pilot Flying J Travel Center.
The Pilot Flying J company purchased the property from the River Rail Corp. last year contingent on a rezoning request that was approved by the city planning and zoning commission and City Council.
Project Manager Brad Alsup has said construction of the travel center will take approximately 90 days to construct.
“We are planning to build a travel center that will be a little smaller than you see on the interstate highways. We will provide fuel and services to the public and professional drivers,” said Alsup at a February planning and zoning commission meeting.
He said 20 people will be employed at the travel center when it opens for business.
Council members also approved legislation in April to vacate portions of Wells, Third and Bates streets and an unnamed alley near the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. Steubenville plant entrance for the travel center site.
According to the Pilot Flying J Website, the combined network of more than 650 Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers across North America serves more than 1.3 million guests daily.
According to John McDonald of River Rail, “this is a great thing for Steubenville.”
River Rail bought the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. Steubenville plant in 2012.
“We started with two employees and now have 50 people working at our site. We have been working on this project with Pilot Flying J for the past two years. We are very pleased with this project,” noted McDonald.
(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)