Calera residents could begin shopping at the city’s new Publix supermarket as early as mid-April, according to City Engineer Chris Pappas.

City crews have been working for several months to construct roads and complete groundwork on the future Publix lot near the intersection of Shelby County 70 and U.S. 31.

Once completed, the 89,400-square-foot Calera Crossings retail center will house the supermarket, several surrounding businesses and six outparcel properties.

“I think Publix will be a tremendous anchor for business in the city,” Calera Mayor Jon Graham said. “I like shopping at Publix.”

Crews likely will finish constructing the building and its surrounding infrastructure sometime in mid or late March, after which Publix employees will begin stocking the store’s shelves in preparation for a mid-April grand opening, Pappas said.

“We are just building the roads and stuff like that right now,” Pappas said. “The actual building will be completed in mid-March, but they probably won’t be done stocking the shelves until about the second week in April.”

The two city officials said the retail locations surrounding Publix likely will not be filled until after the supermarket opens.

“To my knowledge, none of the outparcels have been sold yet,” Pappas said. “Businesses typically do not announce they’re coming until after everything is built and the anchor has opened.”