MIDWAY – It will take about a year before a Love’s travel stop facility opens its doors for business.
The first step, however, took place Monday night as Midway City Council members approved a conditional use request for the gas station, convenience store and two restaurants planned for the travel stop. The Love’s, about 15,300 square feet, will be built on the southeast corner of the Interstate 95 and Islands Highway interchange.
“Hopefully by next spring, we’ll be open for business,” said Brad Peck, Love’s real estate project manager.
The two restaurants will be a Godfather’s Pizza, with operating hours from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. approximately, and an Arby’s with a drive-through that will be operational 24/7, according to Peck.
There will be spaces for 98 semis, along with parking for 73 autos, 15 bobtail spaces, and four spots for overnight RV parking. There will be seven fuel pumps at the store’s front and nine behind it.
The total number of full-time and part-time jobs available is about 50, including the restaurants, Peck added.
Love’s, on behalf of Laurel View Properties, asked for the conditional use variance from I-C zoning, which only allows for offices. The Oklahoma- based company has about 650 stores and travel stops located across the country.
“They thought we would be a good fit for the distribution centers they are putting into the industrial park,” he said, “and we agreed We are looking forward to having the opportunity to construct here.”
City engineer Trent Long says the business’ plan for access is conducive to what is in mind for Islands Highway planned improvements. Vehicles will have a deceleration lane for a right-turn only into the travel stop. Exits for cars and trucks will be onto Dorchester Village Road, with a traffic signal to be installed at the intersection of Islands Highway and Dorchester Village Road. Semis will enter from Dorchester Village Road.
The number of truck parking spaces enables professional drivers to get their required down time, Peck said.
“To have these parking spaces will help to accommodate the many trucks traveling,” he said.
The parking area crosses over about an acre of wetlands, and Peck said the company is trying to be mindful of its surroundings.
“Our goal was to affect as little of the wetlands as possible,” he said.
Storm water runoff will be directed toward Dorchester Village Road, and an oil-water separator will be used as well, with clean water running underneath and the top layer of fuel getting trapped and removed by a contracted service, Peck said.
Among the amenities at the travel store will be a dog park, and Peck said the company will put in the groundwork needed for electric vehicle hookups. The federal government, he said, is working on an EV highway plan, and as that plan goes into effect, the company can install charging stations.
“All of our new sites are plumbed for that,” Peck said.