By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
The much anticipated construction of Meridian's Wal-Mart Super Center is continuing on schedule, according to its Jackson based developers.
Dirt work is currently continuing at the developer's work site on North Frontage Road, where a new Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse is also to be built.
In fact, Flowers says the site is almost fully prepared for the utilities to be installed.
A recent surge of rains in the area hasn't dampened Flowers' spirits about when the store will be open for business, but he admits the weather has caused some slowdowns in construction.
Although Flowers said he really doesn't expect any delays from recent weather problems, he says a "safe" estimate of when the new Super Center will open is sometime in summer 2001. Developers had previously made firm statements the store would open in June 2000.
Flowers says Wal-Mart just recently announced plans to begin accepting bids for the multi-million dollar construction project. Wal-Mart typically selects its contractors from a pool of regional candidates which have previously worked in constructing its Super Centers.
Once store construction begins, Flowers said developers will begin efforts to make the store more accessible and better suited to handle the increase in traffic by making road improvements.
When completed the Super Center is expected to be about 204,000 square-feet in size. When it opens, the present Bonita Wal-Mart will close down and workers will be transferred to the new store.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@meridianstar.com.