Going, Going…Gone

Demolition Underway for New Truck Stop

Demolition work began earlier this week on the former T.L. Tucker property, east of the intersection at North Main Street and Avenida Colonia. Just under 11 acres of land will be cleared to make way for a proposed truck stop for the Pilot/Flying J Travel Center.  One last legal hurdle was cleared at the July 24th Lamar City Council meeting, with approval for a proposed subdivision at the site.  The council approved annexation of the property in order to clear the path for the project during their June 12th meeting.

Debris from TL Tucker Buildings

It’s expected the new truck stop will be open for business 100 days from the start of the construction. That’s according to Bill Mulligan, Vice President of Development for the Flying J franchise, who was interviewed following the June 12th meeting.  He added that 25 to 30 people will be hired to operate the facility which will be a smaller model than most of the Pilot Travel Centers.  The franchise is a coast-to-coast operation with businesses in 45 states.

The project was greeted with enthusiasm by the community as a whole, especially in light of the number of jobs that will accompany the truck stop which will be open 24/7 and feature a franchise restaurant which is an extension of the Flying J enterprise.

The only concern expressed with the new business was added traffic at the intersection.  Some modifications will be made to include an expanded roadway at the traffic light to accommodate southbound trucks turning into the truck stop.  Portions of the roadway parallel to the canal will also be expanded.  In what may be a connected project, the Commercial Street Bridge which spans the canal a quarter mile east of the intersection, will undergo needed repairs as has had a less-than-suitable safety rating for heavy load vehicles for the past year.  Funding for the project was announced at a recent city council meeting, but a date for construction work has not been announced at this time.

By Russ Baldwin

 

Filed Under: City of LamarConsumer IssuesEconomyEmploymentFeaturedPublic SafetyTourismTransportationUtilities

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