Delays in construction for new Super Center caused by wet weather.

Originally, Coweta city officials had hoped the new Wal-Mart Super Center near Coweta would be up and running before Friday, the busiest shopping day of the holiday season.

But, delays in construction caused by wet weather have pushed the opening date forward to mid-March of next year.

"That was the initial plan, sometime in October or November, and then it went to January," said Steve Whitlock, Coweta city manager.

"The date was pushed back because they had weather-related issues."

Currently, crews are working on parking lot construction and will attempt to get it done before it gets too cold, Whitlock added.

"Other than that, everything seems to be on schedule," he said.

Whitlock said signal and railroad preemption at 111th Street and Oklahoma 51 is basically complete.

"We have one slight utility encroachment in that area, but that is being corrected and addressed," Whitlock said.

A new McDonald's has broken ground across 111th Street to the north of the new super center.

"We have had a tremendous amount of commercial contacts about the properties adjacent to Wal-Mart, too," Whitlock said.

"What we are going to see is once the doors open up, that area is going to become a thriving commercial area."

He doesn't know what the anticipated opening date is for the McDonald's, but anticipates crews for McDonald's most likely are doing everything within their power to open in conjunction with the Wal-Mart.

A lot of speculation surrounds what will occupy the existing Wal-Mart and McDonald's facilities.

Whitlock said negotiations with potential businesses are on-going and city officials hope to make an announcement in the upcoming months.

Upcoming events

Upcoming events for the city of Coweta include the 2007 installment of Shop Coweta Holiday Celebration, which started Nov. 19. and an upcoming tax vote.

Chamber officials say about 80 local businesses are participating in the Shop Coweta program, which entices residents to spend their holiday shopping dollars locally for a chance to win some cash.

Sponsored by the City of Coweta and the Coweta Chamber of Commerce, this is the fourth year for the program, which started June of 2004.

Dec. 11, Coweta city officials are hoping Coweta voters will support a one-half cent tax increase.

The increase would help city officials address infrastructure needs caused by a growing residential community coupled with lagging revenues.