Opp Mayor John Bartholomew says the city is a bit closer to its dream of a retail center at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 331 and U.S. Hwy. 84, after accepting a bid earlier this week for work to be done on a bypass access road.

Bartholomew said the city accepted a bid of $805,483.57 from Moody Contracting to build the half-mile access road, which is required by the Alabama Department of Transportation, on the southern end of the bypass.

The road will run in front of the Best Western hotel and will include an entrance and an exit to and from the bypass.

“We’re going to hold a groundbreaking on Aug. 11, at 10 a.m.,” Bartholomew said. “We’re hoping to start pushing dirt right away after that.”

Bartholomew said the access road is just the first step in what he hopes will eventually become an economic boon for the city.

“It’s going to allow us to be able to bring retail into that site,” Bartholomew said. “That’s going to create a lot of revenue for the city.”

As for the funds to build the road, Bartholomew said the cost will be paid by city, but will not require any additional loans to be taken out by the municipality.