A helicopter from Aircrane Inc. of Atlanta lifts off in the background as Jack Dallas Inc. workers, from left, Chris Thompson and Eric Breakfield, prepare a traffic signal arm near the entrance to Home Depot Thursday on South Frontage Road. The helicopter was used to lift air-conditioners to the new building’s roof.(C. Todd Sherman The Vicksburg Post)

[3/7/03]The Home Depot construction project off South Frontage Road attracted attention Thursday when a huge helicopter began circling the site and then lifting air conditioners onto the new building’s roof.

The 250,000-square-foot store is under construction on a 17-acre site near Bazinsky Road. Ergon Properties of Jackson is the initial developer.

Charlie Buntyn of Ergon said it would take 16 units to cool the warehouse-styled store.

“They hired a helicopter probably because it was more economical,” he said.

Had the contractor hired a crane to do the work, it could have taken longer and cost more.

As it was, the Sikorsky aircraft from Aircrane Inc. of Atlanta, was able to place all 16 units on the roof in about an hour.

While the Aircrane copter was at work on the air conditioners, a crew from Jack Dallas Inc. was installing a traffic light on South Frontage where the access road meets the public road. That work, plus people slowing to watch the helicopter, snarled traffic for a while.

In late February, Buntyn said he thought the store would open in late May or early June instead of the original date in April.

The total projected cost is $17.7 million and, once open, Home Depot expected to employ about 200 people and generate about $20 million in annual sales.

In addition to the Home Depot site, Ergon Properties also bought the old Halls Ferry School and demolished the 50-year-old building. Plans call for the property to be used for a retail shopping area, but Buntyn said the company did not have any firm plans.