Love’s truck stop moves closer to coming to south Bibb County

Macon-Bibb County is one step closer to getting its first full-service truck stop and service facility.

The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority is selling 16.75 acres to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store Inc. on Sardis Church Road in the I-75 Business Park.

Access would be from Frank Amerson Parkway. The authority agreed Monday to allow Chairman Cliffard Whitby to sign off on the real estate closing scheduled to take place Friday. The authority is selling the property for $125,000 an acre, said attorney Kevin Brown.

In February, the Oklahoma-based company received approval for the $12 million truck fueling center from the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission. The center is expected to have a retail store, two fast-food restaurants and a separate service and truck maintenance building. It would include seven passenger car fueling stations, 10 fuel bay lanes for semitruck fueling, certified scales and parking for about 120 semitrucks and about 70 passengar cars.

In another matter, Pat Topping, senior vice president of the Macon Economic Development Commission, said his office has been approached by five potential projects. All are manufacturing and the number of jobs at each ranges from five to 800 jobs.

“These are all in very early stages, and (the companies) are looking at multi states,” Topping said.

This story was originally published May 2, 2016 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Love’s truck stop moves closer to coming to south Bibb County."