MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board appears to be back towards making progress on multiple large-scale infrastructure projects.
After delays caused by intense rainstorms earlier in the spring, MUB General Manager Mike McNulty and Assistant General Manager Rich Rogers offered updates involving multiple projects that have subcontractors that have returned to normal work schedules, including the upgrades to the Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment. This coincides with ongoing work to complete the Upper Popenoe Run Project, along with the next phase of the Chaplin Hill/Westridge Water and Sewer projects that is expected to kick off later in July.
“I mean, they’ve had days where they’ve been impacted by rain, maybe even the following day, but they’ve been making some pretty good progress,” said Rogers.
According to McNulty, excavation work by Mele & Mele & Sons continues for the Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades in order to establish the infrastructure needed to support approximately $46 million worth of improvements. This includes upgraded pumping systems, electrical systems, and a separate restoration of about 920 feet of stream channel at Kelly Run that will be completed by contractors. With preliminary steps underway for the work on Kelly Run, work is also ongoing, so the UV disinfectant that’s a part of the project will be able to be installed at the site.
“They continue to excavate to relocate Kelly Run and work on the new UV structure down on the existing portion of the plant,” said McNulty.
The upgrades at the Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant will allow for the capacity to increase from .75 million gallons per day to 1.75 million gallons per day.
McNulty also noted that work remains ongoing for the Chaplin Hill/Westridge water and sewer infrastructure projects, with a significant portion of the sanitary sewer system fully established. Despite multiple weather-related delays that have taken place throughout 2025, Bear Contracting has completed the majority of the Chaplin Hill water storage facility aspects of the project as well as the sewer mains that are needed to support the approximately $14 million project. With the majority of the directional drill work completed and the next directional drill scheduled to take place later this summer, the final phases are still on track to be near completion by the end of summer 2025.
“For the sanitary sewer system, all of the force main has been installed on the project,” said McNulty. “This month, the contractor completed the remaining sewer piping in connection to Trope Hill and we’ve made the final connection from the new force main to the existing force main.”
For the Upper Popenoe Run project, McNulty reported that three separate crews with Laurita, Inc. are working to install approximately 6,320 feet of 8-inch and 12-inch sanitary sewer pipes as well as 3,410 feet of 18-inch and 48-inch storm sewer pipes that coincide with 2,350 feet of stream restoration along Deckers Creek. Despite multiple rainstorms that have delayed portions of the project, McNulty stated that progress is remaining steady, with all three crews subcontracted for the work expected to take place at the same time.
“For Laurita Construction crew number one, they continue to install a sewer main along the stream and have made it to Hoffman Crossing,” said McNulty. “Their number two crew, they completed the Hoffman sanitary and storm sewer installation, crew number three, they’re completing the restoration of yards and disturbed areas.”
The hope for MUB officials and the three crews that are working on the Upper Popenoe Run project is that it will be completed by the end of the fall, if not earlier. For the restoration of portions of Deckers Creek, McNulty reported that subcontractors are already on site with the hope of having that portion of the project completed by the time the sanitary sewer and storm water sewer pipes are installed. Pending any other weather-related delays, MUB hopes that the work that is aimed at addressing flooding concerns around the Willowdale neighborhood will remain steady moving forward.
“And Appalachian Stream Restoration and Reclamation specialists, they’re on site, and they have started stream restoration,” said McNulty. “They’re working from the Willowdale end of the project, so they’re making progress.”