OHIO — Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel is planning to spend up to $130 million upgrading four Ohio Valley plants.
The steelmaker also may add 125 jobs — the first the struggling company has added in the region in decades, chairman James Bouchard said.
The biggest chunk of money will be a $125 million new cold mill and galvanizing complex at the Steubenville North Plant in Ohio, Bouchard said.
Changes also are planned for the company's Steubenville South plant and at operations in Martins Ferry and Beech Bottom, also in Ohio.
The plants are expected to come online in 2009 and are aimed at cutting costs $100 million a year, he said.
''It’s a pretty significant deal,'' he said.
Also in the works is the transfer of a decking unit from Sharon, Pa., to Martins Ferry. Bouchard said employees will be allowed to transfer.