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New Petrolia plaza now likely in 2021

July 16, 2020

The developer of a new plaza slated for Petrolia Line and Oil Heritage Road still hopes to start construction late this summer.

Wayne Zhang behind the plaza which will include a gas bar, car wash and a McDonald’s restaurant.

Zhang brought the idea to Petrolia Council in May 2019. Officials then acknowledged it had been in the works already in 2018.

But Zhang says the restrictions around COVID-19 as well as negotiations with the county to expand a turn lane for the plaza slowed construction.

Originally, Zhang hoped to build the $4 to $5 million plaza last summer with a Christmas opening. Now, Zhang says construction is likely late in the summer or into the fall.

“If we start around September or October, obviously, we have to fit in the winter situation,” he says adding there is the technology to extend the construction season into the cold months.

Zhang says construction could take six months.

Lambton County officials have not yet said when the road work would take place.

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