NORTH FORSYTH — More than a decade in the making, construction of a Walmart supercenter in north Forsyth could begin soon, according to officials.

Tom Brown, Forsyth’s director of planning and community development, confirmed the retailer has been approved for building and site development permits on 45 acres at 3555 Browns Bridge Road (Hwy. 369), just west of Ga. 400.

In an email, a member of the company’s media relations team wrote that construction is scheduled to begin this summer, with a spring 2017 opening date.

The county approved the zoning for the store in 2003, but the project was put on hold due to the economic downturn.

None of the current county commissioners were in office at that time, and Walmart did not need to go before the current governing body last fall for re-approval.

In August, the commission approved installing a traffic signal at the entrance to the future store. At the time, officials said the store likely would open in 2016.

According to county documents, a site development application has also been approved for a fuel center on the property.

The exact size and features of the retail center were not immediately available.