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OTHER SIZES AVAILABLE UP 1600 CFM Catawbas ‘Fast-Track’ Opening Part of $273M N.C. Casino

The Catawba Indian Nation on March 26 said it will “fasttrack” the opening of a portion of its $273 million North Carolina casino.

Tribal leaders said a “pre-launch” facility for their Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain will open this summer with 500 slot machines.

The announcement came a day after the Catawbas, based in Rock Hill, S.C., said the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs approved a revenue-sharing agreement they reached with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in January.

“With the completion of our compact with the state of North Carolina, the Catawba Nation is eager to open the casino as quickly as possible to begin bringing economic benefits and jobs to the state and region,” Catawba Chief Bill Harris said in a statement.

Harris said the tribe is working on the “pre-launch” facility with Delaware North, its consultant on the casino project, and Skyboat Gaming, the resort’s developer.

Public records show Skyboat Gaming is owned by casino developer Wallace Cheves of Greenville, S.C.

The facility will consist of “prefabricated modular structures,” and will include “limited food and beverage and other guest amenities,” Harris said.

An “introductory” phase of the full casino is still planned and will feature 1,300 more slot machines. That building “will be a permanent structure that will become part of the full casino,” according to a tribal news release. “Its construction is expected to take about a year.”

The pre-launch facility opening this summer will remain operating as the permanent introductory phase building is constructed, officials said.

The facility also will give the casino “a place to teach incoming staff and accommodates people in the region who are anxious to start gaming this summer,” Brian Hansberry, president of Delaware North’s gaming business, said in the statement.

The 17-acre casino site is located off Interstate 85 at Dixon School Road in Kings Mountain, approximately 35 mi. west of Charlotte.

Once full open, the casino is expected to create 2,600 permanent jobs and thousands of construction jobs, according to the tribe and Cleveland County officials.

A lawsuit by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians against the project remains active in the courts. The Cherokee operate North Carolina’s only two legal casinos, both in the far western part of the state.

In a recent statement, Principal Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians said the tribe contends the federal government illegally placed land into trust for the Catawbas’ casino. 

By Cindy Riley

CEG CORRESPONDENT

“First, the old structure must be removed. Once it’s out of the way, dirt must be excavated down to the bottom of the abutment eleva-

Construction crews in Tennessee are tion. Steel or concrete piling is then driven to working on 5 mi. of Interstate 40, starting at a depth based off bearing and the geological the North Highland exit and continuing east characteristics of the soil. The same happens to the Highway 70 exit. The roughly $88 for the bents. Once piling is driven for the million effort, which began in November abutments and bents, the abutment and bent 2020, will widen the interstate from four to cap steel is placed, and they are formed, and six lanes, and also replace five bridges, concrete is poured. Once complete, the beams including three overhead/overpass struc- are set in place. The steel is then placed for tures and two interstate bridges over rail- the bridge deck and concrete is poured. Once roads. all that’s complete, all the parapet walls,

“Traffic has grown leaps and bounds guardrail, bridge approaches, asphalt transisince the interstate system was built in the tions, striping and signage is installed before 1950s,” said Nichole Lawrence, Tennessee traffic is placed on the new structure.” Department of Transportation (TDOT) Roberts said construction of the bridges is community relations officer. “Currently, the most time-consuming portion of the work. there are approximately 45,000 to 50,000 “There are many components involved vehicles that travel this area of I-40 in a 24- with bridge construction, and many steps to hour period, with a lot of that being commercial vehicles.” The project will serve drivers traveling TDOT photo Crews will replace five bridges, including three overhead/overpass structures and two interstate bridges over railroads along Interstate 40 in Tennessee. complete. Concrete also has cure times that must take place before the next steps can begin. across the state by way of Interstate 40, as “The bridges are steel girder bridges, with well as freight moving through the region, and motorists way, which consists of pipe, catch basins and underdrain. the bridge at Campbell Street being five lanes who travel in and around Jackson, Tenn., down interstate 40. Once complete, crews will begin placing dirt over the pipe wide. The Watson Road and Henderson Road bridges are

“Lane closures on the interstate are typically done at night and bringing it up to grade. Once the dirt is installed to cor- just two-lane bridges and the interstate railroad bridges will or the weekends, when traffic is lighter,” said Lawrence. rect elevation, gravel is placed over top and brought up to the be six lanes wide.” “We work closely with our media outlets, as well as social correct grade. Then a layer of A-S mix asphalt, which is an Replacing railroad bridges involves a few additional steps. media, to keep motorists advised of lane closures or shifts asphalt that lets water move through it, is placed. The A-S “There is a lot of work on the front end, in the develophappening in the construction limits. We always keep in layer of asphalt is then covered with A mix asphalt, which ment stage, securing easements, permits and agreements close contact with the trucking industry, so they can work out gives the roadway strength. with the railroad; however, the construction of the railroad route changes as needed. And drivers seem to have adjusted “After the A mix is placed, it’s covered with a BM-2 mix, bridges themselves does not really differ from any others.” well. There are always a few bumps along the way, but which is a binder between the strength of the roadway and As for the progress of construction, said Roberts, “With motorists seem to be patient with us, so far.” the surface layer. The BM-2 mix is then sealed with a thin lift this being a relatively new project, most all the work has

According to Cody Roberts, TDOT District 48 engineer, [TLD] layer of asphalt, and the final surface layer will be an been started, but is yet to be completed. The overpass at now is an ideal time to perform the work. open graded friction course [OGFC] asphalt. The OGFC Henderson Road and Watson Road is being demolished, and

“With the ever-increasing traffic that utilizes the interstate allows water to move through it, so that during rainy condi- crews will begin construction of the new bridges. Crews are system, and the anticipated growth, getting the interstate sys- tions there is no overspray from traffic. The TLD layer is beginning Phase 1 of the railroad bridge construction, and tem up to a satisfactory efficiency and reliability level is a placed to seal off the pavement and not allow the water that are working on Phase 1 of the Campbell Street Bridge congoal of TDOT. This project has been a long time in the mak- moves through the OGFC to penetrate the sub-base. A 51- struction. Once crews complete Phase 1 of the structures, ing, and the funding is secured.” in. barrier wall also will be constructed in the center of the and the drainage and grading are completed in the median,

Roberts said widening the roadway required a great deal roadway, along with median lighting.” traffic will be shifted to the inside where crews can begin of planning and coordination. Building the five new bridges also is a significant under- working on the outside portion of the interstate.”

“Drainage first must be installed in the center of the road- taking. see ROADWORK page 76