Wayne Travis with Uhl Construction and Local 3 Union Iron Workers finishes up installing the new railing at the Butler County Government Center in Butler on Monday.(JUSTIN GUIDO/ CRANBERRY EAGLE)

 

The $3.5 million construction project to give the county government center an exterior upgrade is expected to finish in less than three weeks, which is almost one year after prep work began.

Half of Diamond Street, from Main Street heading west to the government center, has been closed for about a week as Ironworkers Local 3 in Pittsburgh finishes up the front of the building using a jungle of scaffolding and a fleet of high-lift machines.

John Campbell, director of county facilities and operation, said the new exterior panels that have been placed on all sides of the building will be installed this week on the walkway between the government building and courthouse.

He said workers would also finish the panels on the east side of the government center facing South Jackson Street by the end of the week.

The large sign above the building's entrance is awaiting the arrival of the letters and numbers that will spell out “Butler County Government Center” and the building's address below. A government seal will also appear on the convex sign.

Next week, workers will install the new windows on the east side of the building as well as the lower level. Campbell was not sure how long it would take for the windows to be completely installed.

“Once they start slapping windows in, it usually doesn't take very long,” Campbell said.

Hand rails will be added in the front of the building, and the caulking of the sidewalks is 75 percent done, he said.

Diamond Street between the Butler Eagle and the courthouse will be closed Saturday when crews finish placing the panels on the northeast corner of the building.

The work will require West Penn Power to deactivate an electric supply line near the corner so workers can safely place the panels and cap on the roof.

The county commissioners in November voted to extend the project for three months into June. Campbell now expects work to be complete by mid-July.

Campbell said change orders added about 35 days onto the project. The commissioners approved the extension this month when they approved the change orders.

The minor interior work around the upper and lower Diamond Street doors and trim around the windows also should be complete by mid-July, Campbell said.