The asbestos-containing acoustical material that lines the ceiling of the 30-year-old Coliseum dome is coming off easily, once wetted, a University official confirmed this week, as the large scale removal process kicks into high gear.

Approximately 30 workers, equipped with powered air purifying respirators and protective clothing, began working double shifts Monday (April 3), said Earl Miller, senior construction project manager, following preliminary removal of the material last week.

A crew from USA Remediation, the primary contractor on the $7.8 million job, is performing the work at the prevailing wage rate as required by state law, Miller said. All are experienced, licensed and trained in this type of work, and are either citizens or have the proper paperwork to work in the U.S.

About 25 percent of the project is abatement work, he added, with the majority focusing on general construction projects like reinstallation of the ceilings in corridors, electrical and mechanical work, scaffolding, cleaning, fencing, flooring, seating and the reapplication process.

USA has hired a number of local and area sub-contractorssome union some non-unionto perform the bulk of the work, among them March Westin, Wayne Crouse, Brand Scaffolding, Keystone, Tri County Electric, Black Hawk Interiors, Alco Fence, Tom Brown Contracting, Patrinos Painting and Scallece Industries.

This represents approximately 60-70 workers from eight West Virginia companies and two from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Phase I of the project called for floor-to-ceiling scaffolding in a nest, or tower section, in the middle of the 14,000-seat basketball arena. This 150-foot-high tower also contains a decontamination room so that workers can dispose of their work clothes, shower and dress.

Phases II-V branch from the tower via tunnels into four equal quadrants, separated by barriers. Workers have completed the removal of the material in Phase II, near the Blue Gate.

As one phase is completed, scaffolding will be erected in the next phasePhase III , for example, (near the Gold Gate)and so on in a”leap frog”process around the facility, Miller explained.

Once the material is removed, the surface is polished and cleaned and clearance testing is conducted to ensure that the microscopic fibers are gone, said Joe Fisher, assistant vice president for facilities and services.

A clear sealant spray called”lock down”is then applied to the clean areas, and final air clearance and sampling is conducted.

Workers then remove the containment barriers and engineers inspect the exposed concrete structure, prior to applying the new non-asbestos acoustical/fireproofing material to the ceiling.

Around the same time the ceilings in each quad are removed and the new material applied, that same process is being performed in the outer and second level concourse areas, Miller noted.

Miller said the tower area also has a contained equipment room for the disposal of asbestos materials. The bagged, removed asbestos material must be placed into a second bagged, tied and cleaned container; loaded onto a mechanical lift, then onto a special trailer that is transported to a Pennsylvania landfill that accepts this type of material.

When the removal and reapplication processes are complete, workers will reinstall speakers, the scoreboard, a new floor and bleachers. Air supply and return grilles will also be replaced as well as lights.

The entire project is set for completion by Oct. 14; notice to proceed was officially given on Feb. 28. The contract calls for the job to be completed within 230 days.

“We are optimistic that this will indeed happen,”Miller said.”So far things are going very well. USA is on schedule and doing a good job.”

Fisher echoed his comments, adding that the project is off to an”excellent start,”and reinforces his belief that the project will be done on time.

WVU closed and sealed off the Coliseum arena in August, and moved fall and winter sports activities to other locations. Most offices and classrooms in the outer ring continued to operate until the spring semester, when they were also relocated. Remaining athletics and business operations vacated the facility in mid-February, so that the facility could be secured and prepped for the full scale abatement project that began in late February.