Austinites and travelers passing through the city will be able to satisfy their cravings for a Big Mac or a Happy Meal at not one, but two McDonald's come fall and they'll be able to gas up their cars at the same time.

Construction started Tuesday on a new building which will house a new McDonald's and a new Ankeny's convenience store and Sinclair gas station on the site of Ankeny's Mini Mart No. 5 on 14th Street NW, just off Interstate 90.

Owner Mike Ankeny said he'd first started considering the idea of a new, expanded building in April as a way "to increase traffic at the store. You always have to be on the lookout for ways to get people in the store."

Ankeny said the new building, which will house both operations, is being constructed behind the current Ankeny's Mini Mart No. 5 and added the current building will be torn down when the new facility is completed. The new gas station will offer "pay at the pump" and a car wash also will be constructed on the same site.

He said the site will be constructed with those driving motor homes in mind. "There will be plenty of room for them to get in, turn around and get out."

Ankeny plans for construction to be complete by mid-November and said he hopes the store will only be closed for a day, but that gasoline service could be shut down for up to two weeks while new gas lines are installed, a new canopy is built and concrete is poured.

Amanda L. Rohde can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com