DonateSearch

Pittsburgh City Council

City plans to rebuild salt storage next to Saw Mill Run.

Written by Amy Whipple

The Department of Public Works (DPW) has asked for money to construct a new salt storage building.

The department requested $6.9 million to be part of the city’s capital budget for the project. That money would pay for the demolition and construction of a new Saw Mill Run Boulevard salt storage facility.

DPW’s assistant director Chip Gaul said at the Dec. 10 city council committee meeting that the current building, which is the city’s primary salt storage facility, is beyond repair with deteriorating concrete, corroding reinforced steel and an inoperable emergency ventilation system. DPW director Chris Hornstein said the cost of demolition and site adjustments would be about $4 million.

The matter was to be brought up again for approval at the Dec. 9 legislative meeting. However, Council Member Theresa Kail-Smith of Westwood requested to revisit discussion with DPW after she learned the county built a comparable facility for $1.4 million. 

Hornstein said DPW estimates the building itself will cost $1.7 million; the remainder of the request is for contingencies. The site’s proximity to Saw Mill Run and increasing the facility’s capacity contribute to higher construction costs.

Kail-Smith again expressed concern about the feasibility of a $6.9 million project when council needs to cut the proposed 2026 budget by $30 million. “You could really store salt under a tarp,” she said, though Hornstein disagreed.

Council will hold the request for one week.

Connections to this story

Topics:
Infrastructure
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · December 9, 2025
Sources:
Resolution 2025-2574 — authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Public Works to enter into an agreement or agreements with…

More surveys

Have your say on more of the stories we’re covering.

Pittsburgh City Council

Four startups partner with city government.

In 2026, four local new businesses will receive stipends of $25,000 from the city that they will use to search rivers, find heat loss, expand AI use, and create 3D maps for the city.

Pittsburgh City Council

Fire budget will not cover free smoke detector program.

While the image of city firefighters is of them rescuing residents from raging infernos, Fire Chief Darryl Jones said during a Nov. 20 budget meeting the real work is saving lives before the trucks…

Pittsburgh City Council

Pittsburgh Water bills sink budget.

During the dry talk about budgets, city council learned that Pittsburgh is drowning in unpaid water bills.