Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works expansion to see vote in March
BUTLER TWP — With work to meet township specifications wrapping up, representatives from Cleveland-Cliffs said they expect a vote in March on whether a $195 million upgrade plan to its Butler Works facility will be recommended for approval.
Representatives of Cleveland-Cliffs met with the Butler Township Planning Commission at its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3, to give an update on how meeting those specifications is going thus far.
“We are moving along as planned and things are coming together well,” Aaron Steinheiser, general manager of the facility, said.
The project, which will include the expansion on the current hot mill as well as the construction of several structures around the property, was first brought before the planning commission in December 2025.
The expansion on the hot mill will push the facility’s edge closer to Bessemer Avenue and the hillside it’s on. To combat that, the plan included a concrete-face retaining wall with soil nails — reinforcements inserted into the hillside — to hold them back.
However, concerns were raised by the township and its engineer, Gateway Engineers, about whether the nails that would run under Bessemer Avenue would end up being a liability issue.
“I’m concerned about them being under the road we are currently responsible for and that we maintain. In the event that something would happen, we don’t want the township to be on the hook for that,” township solicitor Rebecca Black said at the December meeting.
Steinheiser said at Tuesday’s meeting the remaining work includes a stormwater permit, a survey, a title search and a maintenance agreement with the township for the nails. He said all of the issues should be resolved in time for the March meeting.
The project is expected to increase the number of jobs that the facility will offer. Butler Works currently employs about 1,300 people.
If Cleveland-Cliffs’ project is recommended for approval by the planning commission, it will move to the township board of commissioners for final approval before work can begin.
Civil & Environmental Consultants’ project manager Rachel Upadhyay said in December Cleveland-Cliffs hopes to have the expansion operational by July 2028.
