Completing casino designs next step for Isle of Capri

EDITOR'S NOTE: A street name has been corrected.

Now that the Missouri Gaming Commission has approved Isle of Capri's plans for a Cape Girardeau casino, the company is finishing design work so construction bidding can begin.

The realignment of Main Street will be the first step in the construction, expected to take 18 to 24 months, said Jill Haynes, Isle of Capri communications director.

Work on the casino building itself will begin this summer, but site preparation work will start earlier than that, she said. The casino will open in late 2012.

"We have been working closely with the city and its planning commission and will continue to do so," Haynes said.

While residents have seen many conceptual drawings of the new casino, a good portion of the design work remains to be done, Haynes said.

The $125 million casino is expected to have 1,000 slot machines, 28 table games, three restaurants, a lounge and terrace overlooking the Mississippi River and a 750-seat event center.

"This project represents one of the largest economic development projects in the history of Cape Girardeau," said Paul Keller, Isle of Capri vice president and chief development officer. "Our goal is to build a showpiece for Southeast Missouri, enhance the historic downtown area and bring hundreds of quality jobs to the community."

Isle of Capri will present a preliminary development plan to the city planning commission Dec. 8.

The company has already been meeting with the city engineering staff, who have been reviewing design plans for the realignment of Main Street.

"It will still be a city street, so we want to make sure it is built to our specifications and standards," said City Engineer Kelly Green. This project will be put out for bids in February, she said.

Under a development agreement between Isle of Capri and the city approved in September, Isle will pay for the necessary roadwork and relocation of utility lines to its 22-acre site. The company declined to release a construction cost breakdown, but maintains the casino development will cost $125 million total.

The city will oversee the road construction and utility work, which includes new water and sewer lines. The portion of Main Street between Mason and Mill Streets will become one continuous roadway, according to Isle's plans. The casino entrance will be at the intersection of North Spanish Street and Main Street, Green said. The road project includes 1,700 feet of new pavement.

"There will be turn lanes at the entrance. At this time, it will not have a signal light but will be designed so that it could at a later date if necessary," she said.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646