The Kroger fuel center reopened a day ahead of schedule.

Local drivers will again have another option for gasoline Wednesday as the Kroger Fuel Center on Turner McCall Boulevard is schedule to reopen after undergoing facility upgrades.

Construction to add two new fuel dispensers and a new diesel fuel pump began July 5. The new center will feature a total of 14 fueling spots, eight of which will offer diesel fuel.

Kroger plans to celebrate the expansion of its adjacent store — which is currently being remodeled — in spring 2013.

“The Rome community is extremely important to us and expanding the Fuel Center, along with other store improvements, will offer even more choices and convenience for our customers,” says Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “We look forward to providing our shoppers with these enhanced services.”

The new pumps open as gas prices reach a high point for the summer months.

The cheapest gas prices in Rome appeared to sit around $3.67 per gallon for regular unleaded on Monday, according to GasBuddy.com, while low prices in Cartersville hovered around $3.26 per gallon.

Average retail gas prices in Georgia rose 4.6 cents per gallon in the last week according to gasoline price website GeorgiaGasPrices.com, coming out to an average of $3.57 per gallon on Sunday.

State gas prices were an average of 30.6 cents a gallon higher Sunday than a month ago. The national average of a gallon of gas increased 5.4 cents in the last week to $3.67.

“The national average has spiked 25-cents per gallon just in the last month, thanks to an onslaught of refinery problems - mainly in the Great Lakes and California,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “While these situations are temporary in nature, it goes to show this nations dependence on domestic refineries.”

GasBuddy.com contributed to this report.