Oaks Shopping Center Getting Closer to Opening

It has been over a year since construction started on Oaks Shopping Center at the intersection of Black Rock and Egypt Roads, in Oaks, PA. Originally, the center was to open in the autumn of 2013. Inclement weather throughout 2013 kept construction behind schedule. As the winter weather finally begins to recede, construction gets closer to completion.

Wendy's is hiring, as you can see by the sign.

Penn Liberty Bank from Egypt Rd side and behind with servers from Uno parking along the roadway.

Concrete is being cut in front of Wawa. Their fuel pumps are in place under the large canopy.

The stores in the rear of the center are not quite as far along as the bank, Wendy's and Wawa seem to be.

This is an overall view of the center from the corner of Egypt and Gumbes Rds. On the lot in the foreground the Buffalo Wild Wings Bar and Grill will arise. 

It won't be long before bright lights shine all night long, day after day, everyday of the year combined with the odor of burning beef and chicken wafting through the air.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Shopping Center - One Year Later

Just a bit more than one year has elapsed since I began photographically following the progress of construction at the Oaks Shopping Center site. What a difference a year makes!

 

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Construction - Beginning of August 2013

Chicago Grill as viewed from Bob Evans parking lot

The construction is moving alone. All the walls are up at Chicago Grill-Pizzeria Uno. Fake stone work is being done on the lower part of the exterior walls. From Egypt Road I can see plastic pipes growing out of the floor inside the walls.

The bank site is on the right of this photograph with Wawa site to the left.

Originally the opening for the Oaks Shopping Center was Fall of 2013. 

Wawa site on the right side of this photograph with Buffalo Wild Wings site on the far left. A tall retaining wall was built between the shopping center and the houses on Gumbes Rd. A white fence was recently installed atop that retaining wall. Both the wall and the fence can be seen behind the Buffalo Wild Wings site.

The roads near the intersection of Black Rock and Egypt Roads are being enlarged, as seen in the photograph above and those below.

A lane has been added to the westbound exit of US 422.

Two lanes have been added to the eastbound exit/entrance of US 422.

Fall is not quite two months away and lasts another 90 some days. 
It is possible completion of this project will happen before Christmas.

We shall see.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Chicago Grill Has Two Walls

Another wall was erected at the Chicago Grill / Pizzeria Uno in Oaks.

It seems there will be several upright beams on the near side in this photograph to carry the weight of the roof.

The view through this window is the church. What can't be seen is the cemetery between the church and that mound of dirt. Rather than that plain brown mound, I would rather see the cemetery as I eat my meal.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Walls Going Up in Oaks

Walls are going up in Oaks, PA at the intersection of Egypt and Black Rock Roads.

Block laying started here between Black Rock Road and US 422. 




This retaining wall was first to be built. It runs parallel with both US 422 and Egypt Road.

This bricklaying scaffold is in place, inside the walls of the future restaurant. The building is taking shape.

Rebar is set with safety caps atop to keep the workers from loosing an eye or being impaled in a fall.

Some blocks begin to frame a door way, others stacked waiting for the call.

Others lay broken, half used, cast off. Sacrificed to the greater whole.

Whole pizzas can't be far behind.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Road Construction Oaks

The Oaks Shopping Center, the construction site across Black Rock Road and the Expo Center all have contributed to a need for increased traffic capabilities of the nearby roads. Hopefully, that need is being addressed with the current road construction.

The Norristown bound side of Egypt Road is being widened as it approaches the eastbound US 422 entrance.

The grass has been scraped from quite a bit of the hillside along Egypt Road.

It looks like new storm drains will be installed along the road.

New utility poles were planted to carry the overhead traffic signals at both intersections along Egypt Road - Black Rock and Mill Roads.

Although the entrance ramp will be wider, it is not likely US 422 will be widened much beyond the entrance ramp.

Above is the eastbound exit from US 422 onto Norristown bound Egypt Road. There is a basin that was excavated to the right of the exit ramp. It is full of water. I spoke with an older lifetime Oaks resident who remembers a spring right where that basin is today. I wonder if anyone did their homework before digging that basin?

Below are a few images I created whilst out with a camera. I can be dangerous, at times.

With all this road construction, surely the roads will not be jammed in the future. One can only hope someone knows what they're doing.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all right reserved

US 422 Oaks Exit - Working at Night

By daylight, the Oaks exit on eastbound US 422 .

I drove by the site around 8pm on Wednesday night and couldn't help but notice the bright lights.

The generator powered lights were at opposite ends of construction site. The scene reminded me of the photographs that came back from the manned lunar landings. Very bright directional lighting on a barren surface. That reminded me of David Bowie's song Space Oddity. "Ground control to Major Tom ..."

I moved to the other end of the ditch, where there was work actually happening. 

Even though the lights were bright, the lighting was not great. The operator of the excavator could easily be blinded by the lights. A worker at this kind of site really has to be alert. Getting hit by the bucket could ruin a worker's evening.

"Tell my wife I love her very much. She knows."


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved