Cessnock will soon have a new KFC restaurant with construction set to kick off on the new venue this Monday.
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The new restaurant will be built on the site between the current KFC on Wollombi Road and Cessnock Pool, with the existing restaurant to eventually be converted into a Hungry Jacks.
The current KFC, which has operated from the site since 1980, will remain open while the new restaurant is under construction.
Cessnock City Council issued consent for the re-development in August last year.
According to the plans lodged with council, the two fast food restaurants will operate from separate buildings with separate drive-thru facilities, but will have one shared access and shared car parking.
But KFC Cessnock franchisee Shayne Herring assures both customers and motorists that the new layout will alleviate the current night time overflow issues on Wollombi Road.
"At the new site there will definitely not be any queuing on Wollombi Road," Mr Herring said.
At the new site there will definitely not be any queuing on Wollombi Road. That's why we rebuilt the site.
- KFC franchisee Shayne Herring
"That's why we rebuilt the site."
The project has been about five years in the making, including a now abandoned plan to move KFC to the former Cessnock City Bowling Club site on Aberdare Road, Aberdare.
"We're very excited," Mr Herring said.
"It has been a long, hard project.
"It will be nice to have a brand new store."
Mr Herring said the new KFC would be roughly the same size as the current restaurant.
He said they were hoping to have the new KFC venue completed later this year, before the current restaurant is demolished and construction begins on the Hungry Jacks.
The new KFC site was formerly the home of Doctor Donald Lang.
Mr Herring said where possible, the trees that were on site had been re-located both locally and out of the area.