Clare’s newest fueling station is nearing completion. Very soon, the north end of town will be welcoming a Fleck’s Fresh Mart convenience store and BP fueling station to the community–located at the corner of Colonville and South Clare Ave.
According to workers on site, the 3,955-square-foot facility could be finished in less than a month, and is currently in its final phase. All electrical work both above and below ground has been installed, as well as all structural work including fuel islands on both sides.
What remains now is the insertion of the fuel pumps, which due to their expensive nature, are reserved for the final steps. Other tasks include the placement of the roadside sign, which has just just arrived, as well as remaining interior work. The facility is expected to utilize the latest industry technology, and anticipates career opportunities.
The station will serve breakfast and lunch foods, with truckers as their target audience. Bear in mind, Clare’s northernmost industrial area is very saturated with semi-truck traffic and with the close proximity to the expressway, Fleck’s is expected to be a very friendly haven for drivers occupying these routes.
Also, the station will sell beer and wine, but no hard liquor.
Originally, the project’s construction was slated to begin in March of last year, with a finish line of eight months. However, delays and variables have shifted the project forward to present day, with the community waiting patiently.
Meanwhile, the Speedway across the street prepares for a major shift in business, while maintaining plans to undergo a transformation of its own.
Plans call for replacing the station’s underground fuel tanks while modernizing the pump configuration, including the addition of a dedicated diesel fueling area.
The existing layout, which features two rows of pumps, will be reconfigured into a single, streamlined row similar to newer fueling stations in the area. The redesign is intended to provide drivers with more room to maneuver and ease some of the congestion and frustration associated with the current layout.
As part of the project, the existing canopy will be removed and replaced with a new structure positioned farther from the roadway. The relocation will eliminate an overhang that previously extended into the MDOT right-of-way.
The renovation will also include repaving and concrete replacement in portions of the parking lot, addressing pavement concerns previously raised by city officials. Plans also call for moving the dumpster enclosure to the rear of the property.
Once completed, the project is expected to improve traffic flow, create a more efficient fueling area and provide longtime commuters with a more modern and accessible experience.
Ultimately, city planners expect this end of town to glow up to modern standards and serve traffic in their most definitive forms, with Fleck’s setting the bar.
Employees at Beacon and Bridge, located opposite of Jay’s Sporting Goods, report excitement with the addition of the new station. They expect little to no loss of major sales–due to their more removed location at the corner of Clare Ave and Surrey Rd–and are happy to welcome a new neighbor to the flow of outskirts traffic.
