Construction is well underway at the corner of Creswick Road and Howitt Street as the Carl’s Jr burger restaurant, Guzman Y Gomez Mexican drive-thru and BP service station begin to take shape.

The application to develop a mixed service station with two 24-hour fast food outlets at the former William Barrett and Sons steel works site was lodged in December 2017.

Site supervisor from Carelli Constructions Liam Robertson said things were moving quickly, with construction on the Carl’s Jr and 12-pump BP service station estimated to be completed by May.

The Guzman Y Gomez will likely take a bit longer, with Mr Robertson estimating its completion around late July to early August.

In the past Ballarat City Council deputy mayor and North Ward councillor Daniel Moloney said  he was encouraged by the confidence the business had in the area.

“It’s exciting there’s multinational businesses looking to invest in Howitt Street because it was only a decade ago the area was struggling,” he said in late 2017. 

“It’s really alive and it’s probably one of the most successful strips in Ballarat.”

This is set to be the forth Carl’s Jr in Victoria, however director of CJ’s Victoria, Andrew Firn says the state has potential for much more growth.

“Australia is a large burger market and I believe the State is capable of being home to more than 70 Carl’s Jr,” he said in a 2018 press release.

The chain has run into controversy in the past due to its advertisements featuring scantily clad women chowing down on giant burgers.

The ads featuring names such as Kim Kardashian ran from 2005 until 2017.

Former CEO Andy Puzder had long defended the ads, saying in a 2011 press release, “We believe in putting hot models in our commercials, because ugly ones don’t sell burgers.”

“We don't have anything to be ashamed of,” he would later say to USA Today.

When it was first proposed, it was estimated the cost of the development would cost close to five million dollars.