Let the shopping begin.

Peachtree City’s newest “big box” store, the Target in Kedron Village, opens today to the public. This kicks off the store’s soft opening period, which will be followed by a grand opening Sunday.

A nearby traffic light to assist with the expected glut of shoppers is due to be activated Saturday at the intersection of Ga. Highway 74 and Georgian Parkway/Ardenlee.

The light has been a long time in coming for city officials, who ran into a lengthy process securing a permit from the Georgia Department of Transportation, according to City Manager Bernie McMullen.

Because of the delay, the city had to take an extraordinary measure to get the light ready for the opening: the City Council approved a no-bid contract with the developer of the shopping center so the necessary turn lanes, striping and pedestrian crosswalks could be added to the intersection. Had the city not done so, it could have delayed the project for months, officials said.

The cost of the construction was slated to come in under $304,000, city officials said.

The DOT did help by approving a shorter “burn-in” period for the traffic light, meaning it will only have to blink yellow for three days before going operational, McMullen said. Usually that period has to last at least a week.

Some City Council members are predicting that Target traffic will also take its toll on other areas including the intersection of Walt Banks Road and Peachtree Parkway.

The store will be open Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to a recording on the store’s phone line.