Construction begins on Cives steel plant

A Georgia-based steel company broke ground on its new fabrication plant in eastern Idaho.

Cives chairman Ray Philips said that it was too soon to tell when the project would be completed.

Philips and all of Cives’ local contractors declined any further comment.

The contractors were out in full force in Ucon Tuesday morning, digging up the ground for the new steel fabrication plant.

Residents learned in August that the plant would be coming to eastern Idaho. At that point, Cives said it planned on getting permit approvals by mid-September, laying foundation by mid-October and fabricating its first piece of steel before the end of the year.

Cives did not get approval from the city of Ucon until October 10th, following weeks of controversy and some public dissent.

Philips said the controversy itself made people at his company very nervous about this project, which is why he was unable to comment any further.