Construction of the Clearwater's new 25,000 sq. ft. Buy-Low grocery store is progressing quickly and the building is expected to be ready to open on Dec. 1.
That's the word from Gord Leclaire, a business development consultant working for Jim Pattison Developments.
“The building is on schedule and people should be able to do some of their Christmas shopping here,” he said. “We're planning for a smooth transition.”
Up to 60 workers, including about a half-dozen locals, have been employed on the project so far, added site supervisor Ken Eldridge of Norson Contractors.
That number should grow to around 100 once construction begins soon on a second building in the proposed Clearwater Shopping Centre.
Completion date for the second building, which will be located immediately east of the new grocery store, should be next April.
The number in the construction crew does not include people from Buy-Low who will come to Clearwater in the fall to help in the transition from the old Safety Mart store in Brookfield Mall.
As of early in the week nearly all the underground plumbing and electrical was done, and the crew was just about ready to begin pouring the concrete slab for the building's floor.
Once that is done, work on finishing the interior, such as drywalling, was expected to proceed rapidly.
Construction of the roof, which will consist of a EPDM synthetic rubber membrane over insulation with rock ballast on top, is also progressing quickly.
Another layer of fine crush was needed before paving of the parking lot could begin.