Contracts have been awarded to renovate an existing building in West Smithfield that will be converted into Smithfield Fire Station Number Two.
Earlier this year, the Town of Smithfield purchased the former Johnston Ambulance Service building at a price of $425,000 or about 11 percent below tax value.
The JAS building, at the corner of West Market Street and Strickland Drive, has been vacant since August 2016 when the ambulance company closed.
Initially the Town said the fire station would be open by August, but last week Fire Chief John Blanton said it would likely be October.
During the Aug. 1st council meeting, the board awarded a $72,763 bid to Stephenson General Contractors to perform upgrades to the building. J.P. Edwards Inc. was awarded a $28,850 bid for site work, grading and new concrete. Smithfield Sign Design was awarded a $3,295.54 bid for a new sign. The total cost to the Town of Smithfield was $104,908.54.
Chief Blanton said the renovations should be completed to allow the opening of Fire Station #2 in about two months.
The opening will come more than 22 years after West Smithfield was annexed into the city limits.
The Smithfield Fire Department had a temporary West Smithfield Substation in 2012 and 2013 during the closure and replacement of the Neuse River Bridge on Market Street.
