Development continues
JACKSON TWP — Construction continues on business development along Route 528 over Interstate 79 and Route 19, including a new FedEx distribution center, a new service station and two revamped road intersections.
Construction on the shell of the FedEx Ground distribution center at 174 Tomlinson Drive is on schedule, a company spokesman said.
The distribution center, which will be have more 300,000 square feet, is to be done by August 2016.
Spokesman David Westrick said the next step will be the interior work that includes installing conveyor belts, scanners and other equipment that make up the material-handling system that will sort packages in the facility.
Construction for that will continue until August.
“The new facility will join an existing station on Neville Island, enabling us to continue to meet and exceed customer demands in the Pittsburgh area,” Westrick said.
While Westrick said the number of jobs has not been determined, earlier reports said FedEx may hire up to 500 workers.
He said the site was chosen because of its “ease of access to major highways, proximity to customers' distribution centers and a strong local community workforce for recruiting employees.”
Since 2005, the company has opened 11 new hubs with advanced material-handling systems and expanded or relocated more than 500 facilities.
Township manager Chris Rearick said developments like FedEx may bring more interest from the service industry, including restaurants and retail stores.
“They'll help provide a greater base of employment in the township and secondary growth related to the service industry, especially additional housing growth as well,” he said.
Outside FedEx's new facility, the township is working to improve Route 528. A four-way intersection will be built by next June on Tomlinson Road and Jo Deener Drive near FedEx.Rearick said the township is seeking to buy properties to make way for the intersection.“We have a couple of properties in the process of settling with the township,” he said. “Once all the right of way is gained, construction can begin.”Rearick said construction for the intersection could begin in late fall, with paving occurring in early spring.By building the intersection, “long-standing” traffic safety issues will be remedied by eliminating conflicting access roads and replacing them with one traffic signal.“We're seeing more traffic just in general with the development of Jackson's Pointe and residential traffic with the new housing we're seeing on Tollgate School Road corridor,” Rearick said.Just off Route 19 by Jackson's Pointe on Jackson Paoint Road, a new Speedway gas station opened Thursday.The 3,900 square-foot facility has 20 fueling lanes with 10 dispensers. It has a Speedy Cafe with self-serve ordering kiosks.“We look forward to serving the people of Zelienople,” Speedway communications manager Stefanie Griffith said.That intersection of Route 19 and Route 528 has been expanded with turn lanes and new traffic signals.Rearick said a potential reason why the township is seeing increases in development is its accessibility to commuters and businesses.“I think it's becoming more obvious that Jackson Township is becoming more accessible,” he said. “It actually provides for a more efficient commute than even internally within some areas in Cranberry (Township).”“The commuting time isn't what it was once perceived to have been,” Rearick said.
