Work on Welland’s new $17.9M fire stations progressing, says Chief Adam Eckhart

This recent drone photo shows work underway at Welland Fire and Emergency Services' new headquarters, 400 East Main St. Fire Chief Adam Eckhart expects to see walls start to go up in the next couple of weeks on the downtown site where Atlas Specialty Steels had stood for decades. ROB SCOTLAND / SPECIAL TO TORSTAR

By Dave Johnson
Courtesy of The Welland Tribune

Footings should be in place sometime this week for Welland Fire and Emergency Services’ new Station 2, says Chief Adam Eckhart.

It will sit behind the current headquarters at 636 King St. and cost more than $4.2 million to build. That cost also includes demolition of the current structure, which served as Crowland Township Hall, and fire and police department offices in the past.

“We’re in good shape,” said Eckhart of the project.

Eckhart said contractors working on the property ran into the former pool that used to sit behind the hall.

“It was still there, intact. It had thick concrete walls and foundations. It took three or four days to remove it.”

The chief said most of the underground servicing work for the new station, which will be 580 square metres in size with garage space making up nearly 60 per cent of the overall building size, is complete and a rough coat of asphalt in place.

One lane of traffic, formerly parking spots, has been left open beside the current building to allow Cool Licks Ice Cream Parlour to continue to operate.

“We’re happy to have the lane open, and it fits in with Cool Licks curbside service,” said Eckhart.

Read More