At long last, the soon-to-be Wawa on Easton and West Waverly Roads is making visible progress.

Site construction began in July as work crews leveled the area with soil, stone, and macadam. Fuel tanks went in the ground, followed by the construction of pump station overhangs and the framing of the main building’s exterior.

According to officials, metal studding, electrical wiring, plumbing, and a sprinkler and fire alarm system are next on the docket.

“As each one of these is done in a sequential order they’ll be checked off the list,” Scott Lynch, Cheltenham Township Fire Marshall and Director of Building and Codes, said. “They still have to pour the cement slab for the floor. It’ll be done in steps, and with no unforeseen issues, they’ll be moving pretty quick.”

Lynch said that Wawa’s expected opening date is December 2022. Initial plans reach back to 2019 when Goodman Properties, a Jenkintown-based real estate development and property management firm, was given the nod to build.

“There’s still quite a bit of work and quite a few inspections that have to happen. The building inspector is out there everyday now that we’re in the building process. Once we get down towards the end, we may issue them a temporary occupancy for them to start training employees, even though some of the site work may need to be done,” Lynch said.

Nearby residents have dealt with brief power interruptions and noise disturbances, as well as the closure of a small portion of Waverly Road from August 2021 to April 2022.

“This project has pros and cons, and the residents are split,” Lynch said. “Is it going to add more traffic and congestion? Yes, there are going to be growing pains. We’re going to hold Wawa to all existing agreements and stipulations that were set forth, including the terms of delivery trucks. We respond quickly to complaints, and so do they. They’ve been cooperative. They get someone right on it when there’s been a complaint.”