Milton’s Royal Farms at the corner of Route 16 and Union Street Extended is beginning to take shape. The canopy for the gas station has gone up, and work has begun on the framing of the convenience store.

The Royal Farms is expected to be completed in September, but no grand opening has been scheduled. 

Work began at the 2-plus-acre lot at the corner of Route 16 and Union Street Extended in February with the clearing of the lot, which included the removal of a 100-year-old pecan tree, and preparing the site to make way for a 4,700-square-foot convenience store with an additional 5,100 square feet of space for gas pumps. Pieces of the pecan tree have been preserved and are planned to undergo historical study. 

Entrances to the parcel are slated to be on Route 16 and Cedar Creek Road, along with traffic improvements to the intersection of Route 16 and Route 5. The traffic improvements will include reconstruction, widening and restriping of Route 16 and Union Street Extended. There will be dedicated turn lanes into the parcel from both approaches on Route 16 and a right-turn lane on Union Street Extended. Plans also include a bike lane through the intersection, modifications to the traffic signal, a pedestrian crossing, stormwater management upgrades and a new transit stop. 

Royal Farms will be reimbursed $1.8 million for the road work surrounding the project through the state’s Transportation Infrastructure Investment Fund.