By Cindy Schroeder
Enquirer staff writer

FORT WRIGHT - Police are bracing for temporary traffic jams and more fender benders with Wednesday's opening of a Wal-Mart Supercenter at a prominent intersection here.

One of Fort Wright's biggest developments ever - featuring a red brick faÁade and a forest green metal gabled roof -- is among 10 Wal-Mart supercenters planned for theregion in the next 18 months, joining the ones in Dry Ridge and Aurora. Supercenters are larger than Wal-Mart discount stores and carry a wider selection of merchandise..

After a Wal-Mart Supercenter opened on Aurora's main business corridor about five years ago, the city had to install a traffic light to deal with increased traffic, said Fred Schmits, a judge with Aurora City Court. That store draws from as far as communities along Interstate 74 in Ohio, he said.

Dry Ridge also saw more traffic when a Wal-Mart supercenter opened there about six years ago, but so far it's been manageable, said Mayor Bill Cull. That store draws from seven counties in northern and central Kentucky.

"Obviously, we're going to see an increase in traffic in the Ky. 17/Highland Pike area,'' said Fort Wright Police Chief Dan Kreinst, who added he'll have most of his 11-member police force on duty when Wal-Mart opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday. "With that will come more traffic accidents and traffic jams.''

Smaller businesses are opening around the Fort Wright Wal-Mart, and more are in the works.

"When you have a facility of that size...you're going to be busier,'' said Fort Wright Fire Chief Steve Schewe. "I don't think it's anything that's going to be alarming, but we'll be monitoring that area closely to make sure it doesn't overtax our department.''

Four years ago, Fort Wright officials fought the proposed supercenter, largely because of fears that it would burden already congested roads. After the city rejected the project, the developer sued, and the parties worked out a settlement to address Fort Wright's concerns.

"Anything we've asked Wal-Mart to do over and above the settlement agreement, they've addressed,'' Fort Wright Mayor Gene Weaver said. "They've been very cooperative in their dealings with the city.''

In January 2001, a consultant hired by Fort Wright predicted Wal-Mart and surrounding businesses would generate 18,500 weekday trips (or 9,000 vehicles going to and from the site) when it was fully developed, and 20,000 on Saturdays.

As part of the settlement, the developer and the state had to spend $2.4 million on road improvements before the Fort Wright Wal-Mart could open. State routes near the site were widened, turn lanes were added on Highland Pike, Ky. 17 and Orphanage Road, and traffic signals were installed at each end of the new access road serving Wal-Mart and nearby businesses.

To further reduce traffic, quick-stop businesses such as gas stations and fast food outlets were prohibited or restricted.

Fort Wright officials plan to monitor traffic closely, especially as more businesses open at the site. The Ruby Tuesday restaurant chain has approval to build a restaurant behind Frisch's at the corner of Valley Plaza Parkway and Orphanage Road. On the Highland Pike side, a Key Bank is under construction, a Fifth Third Bank is opening soon and a pediatric office building is proposed.

Ken Varda, manager of the Fort Wright Wal-Mart, said the store will stock produce from the region's farmers, as well as items from local vendors such as Procter & Gamble, Trauth Dairy, UDF, and Skyline Chili.

During the six weeks workers have been stocking the Fort Wright Wal-Mart, passersby have stopped to ask if the supercenter is open, Varda said.

"Some have actually brought carts in,'' he said. "We've told them we're opening Sept. 15 and we hope to see them that day.''

The Wal-Mart development means new money from property, payroll and businesses taxes for the city of Fort Wright and Kenton County Schools. The city expects to realize about $125,000 in annual Wal-Mart tax revenue, but the net increase won't be known for a while, Fort Wright Administrator Larry Klein said. Officials need to see what demands on city services the new development pose.

The opening of Wal-Mart supercenters in the region also is expected to spark grocery price wars.

In the increasingly competitive marketplace, Cincinnati-based Kroger is adding six new stores in the region. In December 2002, Kroger also unveiled its newly renovated Latonia store featuring the one-stop shopping that Wal-Mart is known for. Erlanger-based Remke Markets recently finished remodeling its Fort Mitchell store and the grocer is adding a store in Boone County. Remke also recently touted its 107 years of service on an interstate billboard and in newspaper ads.

In Dry Ridge, the town's IGA store closed soon after the Wal-Mart supercenter opened, as well as a number of smaller businesses that couldn't compete with Wal-Mart's lower prices, Cull said.

"All I can say is, support your small businesses and mom and pop stores, because this'll sound the death knell for them,'' Schmits said. "If a small store puts an item at 99 cents, Wal-Mart will go to 79 cents. It's hard to beat their prices.''

New Wal-Mart Supercenter

Where: 3450 Valley Plaza Parkway near Ky. 17 and north of Interstate 275 in Fort Wright

Size: 174,000 square feet. A Wal-Mart discount store typically is no larger than 125,000 square feet, compared with a supercenter, which can be as large as 220,000 square feet.

Number of employees: More than 500 associates

Projected tax revenues for city: $125,000 a year

Source: Wal-Mart and Fort Wright officials

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E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com