New London - A new Texas Roadhouse restaurant will be constructed near the South Frontage Road entrance of the New London Shopping Center after the project won final approval for a special permit last week from the city Planning & Zoning Commission.

The approximately 7,000-square-foot restaurant on 1.8 acres of land owned by the shopping center and Bellegate LLC will be open seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner. The 280-seat eatery, lying between the now-closed Pizza Hut and a tire center, is expected to open next spring.

A traffic impact study by Vanasse & Associates of Andover, Mass., stated that the restaurant would have little impact on local traffic patterns.

"The proposed restaurant location seems to be in an appropriate location and the anticipated increase in traffic will not degrade the level of service of the existing roadways in the surrounding neighborhood," concurred civil engineer Stephen Savarese in a note to the commission.

Texas Roadhouse, with more than 400 restaurants nationwide, specializes in steaks and ribs served in large portions at reasonable prices. The New London restaurant will be the chain's fourth in Connecticut and first in the region.

Texas Roadhouse is opening up seven new restaurants in October, including outlets in Taiwan and Alaska.

"We handcraft almost everything we serve," according to the company's website.

The restaurant will include a lounge with full liquor license. Hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.

l.howard@theday.com