Construction crews could turn over the first dirt for a second Rapid City Wal-Mart Supercenter this year, Mayor Alan Hanks said.

"There's a 50-50 shot it you'll see it out of the ground this year," Hanks told a meeting of the North Rapid Civic Association on Thursday. "They are absolutely serious about seeing another Wal-Mart out here."

Hanks said he has heard for the past month that the company is days from announcing its plans to build. People involved in the deal have buzzed in and out of town, and Hanks said he believes a deal has been cut for a final piece of land.

Wal-Mart spokesman Josh Phair said Friday that the company had narrowed its options to a few sites in south Rapid City but doesn't have a building date yet.

"There aren't too many sites we're looking at, but there are a couple, so the timetable remains a little fluid," he said.

Most recently, the site proposed for the Wal-Mart was a hilltop along U.S. Highway 16 about a mile north of Catron Boulevard.

But representatives for THF Realty, the St. Louis-based real estate firm working on the project, withdrew requests for city permits for the site last year. A THF Realty spokesman contacted by telephone Friday refused to comment.

Phair said Wal-Mart is eyeing sites on the city's south side in an attempt to balance its coverage of the city.

"We certainly want to fill a void on the south side of town, to complement our supercenter and to serve those customers who have to travel the furthest at this point," he said.

"We really don't comment to media; I apologize," said Brian Deutsch, vice president of leasing for the company.

Hanks said the city's Wal-Mart Supercenter on La Crosse Street often ranks in the top five busiest stores of the discount retailer, so shoppers would probably appreciate another store.

Mark Haberman, manager of the La Crosse Street store, said he couldn't provide any information about the new Wal-Mart but agreed his store is popular.

"We're definitely one of the highest volume stores for Wal-Mart in the nation; it's a busy place," he said. "That's the whole gist, in my opinion, is to take pressure off this store and give shoppers a better experience."

Contact Jeremy Fugleberg at 394-8521 or Jeremy.fugleberg@rapidcityjournal.com