Construction on Old Forest Road Wal-Mart Supercenter to start in spring

The new Wal-Mart Supercenter on Old Forest Road is moving forward undeterred by the economic tumult weighing down other major commercial projects in the area.

Construction on the new 189,000-square-foot superstore is expected to begin next spring, according to an announcement made Tuesday.

The finished project will come with more than $500,000 in road improvements, and feature a redesigned look the company says is fresher and more attractive. The grand opening is slated for spring 2010.

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said Tuesday the company remains concerned about the state of the economy, but has seen its own sales grow this year, enabling it to move forward on projects like Lynchburg’s.

“We’re excited to begin construction and, hopefully, open in 2010,” said Kelly Hobbs, a senior manager in the Virginia office of the company’s public affairs department.

“We hope the community’s pleased with the project,” Hobbs added.

The new Wal-Mart will replace the existing Forest Plaza West shopping center on the corner of Old Forest and Forest Brook roads.

Wal-Mart has pledged to spend nearly $500,000 on traffic improvements to that area. Agreed-upon projects include a center turn lane on Old Forest Road and a right-hand turn lane on Forest Brook Road leading into the development.

The company will also pay to install one new traffic light and split the cost of a second new light evenly with the city.

Two more left-hand turn lanes will be added onto Old Forest Road, leading into Dandridge and Ardmore drives, respectively. Wal-Mart will pay for one of those lanes, while the city picks up the tab for the other.

The new superstore is expected to generate an additional 6,400 vehicle trips per day, according to a study commissioned by Wal-Mart.

This project, which will bring Lynchburg its second Wal-Mart, is a by-right development that does not require a vote of City Council.

The development’s site plans have not yet been approved by the city’s planning division, but Hobbs said they are close to reaching an agreement. Endorsement of the site plans will pave the way for construction to start next year.

In addition to the traffic improvements, Walmart will also build new sidewalks on its side of Old Forest Road. Sidewalks will also line the entrance to the superstore and lead up to the front doors, according to City Traffic Engineer Gerry Harter, allowing neighboring residents to walk to the store if they wish to.

The sidewalks will be paid for solely by Wal-Mart.

The city had no immediate cost estimates for its share of the specified road improvements.

Recently, the city applied for a state and federal transportation grant that will allow it to add flashing warning lights to a railroad crossing on Forest Brook Road.

The targeted crossing sees a train move through only twice a day, but officials said motorists are not using caution when they drive through, perhaps lulled into carelessness by the track’s low traffic.

The safety hazard will only grow once the new Wal-Mart opens and Areva begins its planned expansion, officials said. The superstore alone is expected to double traffic along Forest Brook Road.

If awarded, the grant will pay for the light installation. Annual maintenance costs would then be split between the city and Norfolk Southern. Total cost to each is expected to be between $750 to $1,500 a year.

Harter said the city will likely have to consider widening Forest Brook Road at some future point. Further widening of Old Forest Road is doubtful, he said, given the heavy development the street has already seen.

The Wal-Mart Supercenter is expected to have around 350 employees.

The company unveiled a new design for the site on Tuesday. Hobbs said the revised look does away with past ideas that featured two prominent entrances separated by a large expanse of blank brick.

The inside of the store will offer wider aisles, much like those added to the Wards Road store during its recent renovation. Additional features not found in the Wards Road site will also be included, Hobbs said, although no further details were immediately released.

The revised plan does offer less green space than prior designs shown to the public last year.

Initially, the company planned to keep half of the overall development site green.

The latest version of the project calls for one-third of the site to be green space.

Hobbs said the company had to alter its plans to accommodate new commercial space approved on Forest Brook Road.

The current owners of the Forest Plaza West shopping center, George “Buster” and William “Billy” Walker, plan to relocate some of their existing tenants to new stores that will be built adjacent to the Wal-Mart.

Those plans were approved by City Council in the summer of last year.