Chris Greer, an instructor of professional technology at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, shot this image of a new road off the Oconee Connector using a drone.

Simpson Trucking and Grading of Gaineville already has completed some of the clearing and grubbing work for Parkway Boulevard Extension, which will serve as a major entranceway for an expanded Epps Bridge Centre.

The company also is putting in temporary erosion control measures, according to Oconee County Public Works Director Emil Beshara, and plans to begin moving direct in the next couple of weeks.

The construction work is largely out of the view of the public because of topography and because access is cut off to the beginning of the roadway extension just northwest of Kohl’s department store off Epps Bridge Parkway.

Oconee 316 Associates LLC of Atlanta, developer of Epps Bridge Centre, is poised to begin its own preliminary site preparation work for the 54-acre expansion of the shopping complex.

Oconee County Code Enforcement is waiting on approval of plans by the county’s Utility Department before it can issue a site development permit for clearing, grubbing, grading, and instillation of site infrastructure, according to B.R. White, director of Code Enforcement.

The Oconee River Soil and Water Conservation District has approved erosion control plans submitted by Oconee 316 associates that include the 54 acres for the shopping center and 20 additional acres owned by the Gordy family that will be used to provide fill for the shopping center project.

For more, visit Oconee County Observations.