Photo Credit: Lee Becker

Left to right, Commissioner Bubber Wilkes, Public Works Director Emil Beshara, consultant Bill Ross and Planning Director B.R. White.

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners approved a $3.35 million contract on Friday with Simpson Trucking and Grading Company of Gainesville for construction of Parkway Boulevard Extension.

The three-lane road will run from the current terminus of Parkway Boulevard just west of Kohl’s department store to opposite an existing entrance to Epps Bridge Centre and is to be open by September of 2016.

Total cost for the roadway, including right-of-way acquisition, is expected to run to $3.9 million, and Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin Davis said the county does not know at present how it is going to pay for the road project.

Oconee 316 Associates LLC submitted a rezone concept plan to the county for what it called Epps Bridge Centre II on Dec. 28, and those plans include a 146,290-square-foot retail store with a fuel center similar to what Costco might use.

Oconee 316 Associates LLC does not have Costco under contract, according to Atlanta developer and company owner Frank Bishop.

For more, click here to visit the Oconee County Observations blog.