The long-awaited West End fire station in Waynesboro should be operational in December or early January, according to the city manager.
The $8.8 million project still has significant work to be done including plumbing, electrical and HVAC, but the city is approaching the end of the project, Mike Hamp told AFP.
The most substantial work should be complete by mid- to late October.
The city broke ground on Waynesboro Fire Department Station 2 on Oct. 15, 2024, approximately 11 months ago.
American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds accounted for $3.7 million of the project cost. ARPA funds were designated to localities across the United States to aid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hamp said that the city has received the ARPA funds, and most of the money for the fire station has been spent as of June 30.
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The total project costs include the purchase of the property as well as design and construction costs.
The city purchased the land, at the intersection of Lew Dewitt Boulevard and Osage Lane, for $1,075,000 on Dec. 29, 2022.
Construction, led by the Harrisonburg-based Lantz Construction, is being done on a contract valued at $6,889,000.
Hamp said there will be no additional firefighters hired to man the new station. However, it does appear the city has openings for firefighters, according to its website.
Waynesboro voters approved a referendum supporting the construction of a West End fire substation in 2007. The estimated cost at that time was $2 million.
The current fire station is located at 300 W. Broad St.
The new station should allow the city fire department to respond to calls on the western side of the city within the targeted response time of 5 minutes, 20 seconds an estimated 90 percent of the time. According to a city staff report, calls currently only hit this target 35 percent of the time when the trucks leave from the downtown location.
Station 2 construction photos
“I think they [the images] convey the idea that while a lot has been accomplish, there remains work to complete,” Hamp told AFP. “We expect the remaining work to come together quickly barring unexpected developments.”
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Crystal Graham
