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Fuel center may add to congestion at intersection
(by Dedra Cordle, Staff Writer - June 18, 2009)
The application to place a Kroger Fuel Center in the Southwest Square Shopping Center on Harrisburg Pike and Eakin Road has been pending for over a year, but talks have recently taken off regarding the estimated $500,000 to $1 million investment.
Certain issues, however, will have to be addressed before it can be constructed, says Southwest Area Commission chairperson Ralph Horn.
Those issues include approval by property owners Casto, a request from the City of Columbus to install a right of way on Harrisburg Pike, and traffic.
“One of the main issues is that the city is asking for a 60 foot right-of-way from the center on Harrisburg Pike,” Horn said.
He said that much space could potentially cut into lots from businesses along Harrisburg Pike and the commission is unsure as to what they could do with the available street space.
“The other big thing as far as the commission goes is traffic flow,” he said.
At-large commissioner Marilyn Sandusky said during the busier hours of the day, it takes a very long time to make a left hand turn coming into the shopping center from Eakin Road.
The Eakin Road entrance is where the fueling trucks would be permitted to turn in to for delivery of the fuel center’s supply.
The commission asked the attorney and project manager representing Kroger to come back to their July 15 meeting with more information regarding the right-of-way, Casto, and traffic improvement ideas.
“I think it (the Kroger Fuel Center) would be an asset to the area, but I think there needs to be more discussion on it,” said Horn.
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