Planned road work to ease congestion at Algodones exit

Heavy traffic last weekend stirred up dust when drivers encountered traffic jams near the new Q Casino, located just off of Interstate 8 and Algodones Road in Winterhaven.

Drivers say they wonder when construction in the area will start, and hope it will alleviate some of the congestion.

CALTRANS spokesman Edward Cartagena said the project includes widening the bridge over I-8 by one lane and widening the east and west-bound on/off ramps by one lane each, in order to accommodate that additional traffic.

Cartagena said the Quechan tribe will pay for the project, which costs about $5 million. He said CALTRANS is responsible for providing oversight and making sure the project meets code.

He said CALTRANS is not aware at this time if the tribe has accepted any bids for the project.

Cartagena said construction will begin at the end of the year, but in the meantime, the tribe, which owns the casino and the land, have a traffic management plan to help with the additional traffic. He said the Quechan will be responsible for support such as additional signs and traffic control personnel when there are special events at the casino.

Right now, he said there is a shift in the traffic pattern, and drivers should expect to see additional traffic for the next few weeks.

"We usually anticipate a two- to three-week learning curve," Cartagena said. "Right now everyone's learning their way."

Cartagena said casino was two months ahead of schedule. He said the road construction was always planned to start at the end of 2009.

Quechan President Mike Jackson said they'll "continue to work" on the project, which he said will make the area safer for casino patrons. Jackson declined to comment further and directed The Sun to Brian Golding Sr., director of the Quechan Indian Tribe's Economic Development Administration, who is currently working on the project.

Golding declined to comment.

The Q's Chief Executive Officer Marty Gross previously told The Sun he estimated about 3,000 people showed up by 10 a.m. on the casino's grand opening Feb. 13. He said guests lined up as early as 7 a.m. to get in the casino.

Winter visitors Jan and Pat Cook took the just over eight mile drive from Yuma to the casino Thursday morning and said they didn't experience any traffic problems.

Both Cooks said that even though they didn't experience any traffic Thursday morning, they foresee the need to widen the roads and interchange.

Jan Cook said as the economy picks up, and more people visit the casino and Los Algodones, Baja Calif., which is located off of the same exit, traffic will increase.

"I think it will cause large congestion," Pat Cook said.

Road construction is expected to start at the end of the year and last six to eight months, Cartagena said.

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.