Casino, Terre Haute, brace for heavy traffic

Apr. 3—As much fun as it will be to be inside the Terre Haute Casino Resort, it may not be so enjoyable trying to get there this weekend.

Traffic is expected to be unprecedentedly heavy around the casino in the coming days, as high rollers and the simply curious alike will be swarming to 4500 E. Margaret Dr. to place their bets.

Indiana 46 and I-70 are expected to endure the brunt of the slow-motion activity.

Mike Rich, the casino's general manager, said he's already seen just a glimpse of the onslaught that will greet him beginning Friday.

"People have been pulling into the parking lot every day and asking, 'When are you going to open?'" he said. He expects "thousands and thousands" of patrons to visit Friday.

"The traffic concerns for State Road 46 is the exiting traffic from I-70 Exit 11," said Mayor Brandon Sakbun.

"The turn onto Margaret can quickly get backed up," the mayor said. "The city is working with INDOT on signage to drive traffic to New Margaret. INDOT has been a great partner. We will be working with them on larger infrastructure road projects along State Road 46 over the next few years. The signage is just the start."

Rich said the casino has paid for the signage that INDOT and the city will post.

"They'll look like a typical sign telling you which way to go if you're going to see a place of interest on a state interstate," he said.

Blake Dollier, public relations director for INDOT, added that the signs "are going to encourage drivers to be extra careful."

The signs will be placed near I-70's exit 11 and its exit ramps as well as along Indiana 46.

Preparations are underway to make the trip to the casino as smooth as possible.

Sgt. Justin Sears, public information officer for the Terre Haute Police Department, said, "The casino has hired police officers to assist with the opening weekend. There will be additional officers from several departments assisting."

Rich added, "We have hired external police to help us, and there will be several on-property to help us with the entrance flow. We have a handful of officers that will be helping us on that day."

Four officers will help direct drivers and handle what Rich called "the internal traffic flow in the parking lot" on Friday and Saturday.

Eclipse impact

Another eventful attraction, Monday's total eclipse, is expected to keep the casino hopping beyond the weekend.

"We do expect to be busy on Monday, as well," Rich said. "I think you'll see general traffic flow throughout the entire state of Indiana. We expect to incorporate those people who are visiting Terre Haute into the casino that day."

What is expected of casino traffic on Monday during the solar eclipse "is a hard question to answer," Sakbun said. "We are anticipating 50,000 to 70,000 visitors on eclipse day. We are unable to bifurcate a specific number for the casino on eclipse day."

He added, "On the note of the eclipse, we have received several digital signs that we will employ across town to help drive traffic patterns. The city of Terre Haute maintains a close contact at INDOT, the highway department, the sheriff's department and other public safety departments. We have been prudently planning for the eclipse the last several months."

David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com.