U.S. Steel Board Approves Nearly $3B Hot Strip Mill in Braddock

U.S. Steel's Board of Directors approved full funding for a nearly $3 billion investment in a new hot strip mill on October 22, 2026, at the company's Edgar Thomson Plant at 13th Street and Braddock Avenue in Braddock.

The mill will replace the 87-year-old hot strip mill at the Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, raising annual capacity from approximately 2.2 million tons to 3.5 million tons. It will include walking-beam furnaces and an in-line slab-sizing press.

Construction begins once permits are secured, with initial production expected in late 2029. Outstanding approvals include an air quality permit from the Allegheny County Health Department and a stormwater construction permit from PA DEP. A public hearing on the air permit is set for November 10, 2026.

The project falls under Nippon Steel's broader $11 billion investment commitment across the U.S. Steel footprint. An economic impact study projects up to 6,381 jobs and $1.7 billion in total economic impact.