Delayed plans to build a Walmart store in Kapolei are now moving forward.

The world’s largest retailer said it is beginning construction of the long-planned store now that major road improvements in the region are substantially complete.

Nordic PCL Construction has been selected to build the store, and is expected to employ 200 construction workers.

Walmart, which bought the property in 2006 for about $17 million, had planned to open the store in 2008.

But based on community concerns raised over traffic, the retailer said it agreed to delay development until several regional traffic improvements, including the North-South Road and first phase of a new Kapolei/H-1 Freeway interchange, were completed.

The North-South Road, now known as Kualakai Parkway, opened last year, and the Kapolei interchange is slated to be completed in August.

Walmart said its store should open early next year.

"We are excited to be able to bring savings and convenience to residents of Kapolei and the Leeward side of Oahu," Angie Stoner, a Walmart spokeswoman, said in a statement.

The new store will be Walmart’s ninth in Hawaii and fifth on Oahu. The company also operates two Sam’s Club stores on Oahu.

The Kapolei store will be about 150,000 square feet, similar to the size of its Pearl City store.

Walmart said it will make several traffic improvements adjacent to the store site, which is along Makakilo Drive between Farrington Highway and H-1 across from Kapolei Shopping Center.

Planned improvements include adding two westbound right-turn lanes, extending two eastbound right-turn lanes, and modifying traffic signals at the intersection of Farrington and Makakilo Drive.

Walmart and Kapolei Property Development, an affiliate of the James Campbell Co. that sold the store site to the retailer, will add 270 feet to southbound right- and left-turn lanes along Makakilo Drive.

Coordination of traffic signals along Makakilo Drive at the westbound H-1 offramp and at Farrington will be improved. At Kealanani Avenue, which leads to residential neighborhoods, Walmart will modify traffic signals and create a dedicated westbound right-turn lane, two eastbound left-turn lanes and a northbound through-lane.

Walmart also will build a secondary driveway to its store for right-turn in and right-turn out access along Farrington between Kealanani and Makakilo Drive.