photo by Marcus Frazier

Anthony Bingham of H&H Railroad hammers down a railroad spike near at the Grand Soleil Casino site.

Grand Soleil begins on tunnel work

By Mary Hood (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, June 14, 2008

NATCHEZ — The Grand Soleil is chugging along with its hotel and casino project.

The expansive construction site by the Mississippi is currently being transformed into a thoroughfare by which the casino boat, anchored in the river, can be reached.

In order to travel to the boat, it has become imperative to create a 30-foot-tall bridge underneath the railroad for vehicles to pass, marketing director Baxter Lee said.

“It’s a pretty hefty piece of work that’s going on right now,” Lee said.

On Friday, cuts were made in the railroad, said Robert Peterson, project superintendent for Yates construction, the company working on the casino.

“They were simply cutting the rails so they can lift a section of the rail out and drive their pilings in order to build the bridge,” Peterson said.

This is the quickest and easiest way to work on the bridge dealing with a railroad that still operates.

“We can only close the rail for two days at a time,” Peterson said.

“The train runs Tuesday night, Thursday night and Sunday so the rail has to be back into place those evenings.”

To reconstruct the rail it’s as simple as replacing the track and bolting it back in place.

It was originally estimated that it would be two weeks before the track could be cut, so starting so soon speeds up the process “tremendously,” Peterson said.

“We’re tickled pink that it was cut today,” Peterson said.

Lee said going under a bridge is the best option instead of crossing the rail.

“That way we don’t have to worry about any interruption,” he said. “There will be constant, continual action to the casino.”

Once the cars go under the bridge, the road will dump them into a 330-stall parking lot.

It will take two months for the bridge to be cut out entirely, Lee said.

Meanwhile, meat is slowly being added to the skeletal structures of the three hotel buildings.

The largest building boasts a restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that show off the view of the river and then lead out to the bluff where a pool and a hot tub have recently been poured.

Construction has already begun on a tiki bar to sit next to the pool.

Bill Bayba, president of Big River Enterprises, a developing partner for the Grand Soleil, said the bar will have overhead heating.

This way, bar goers can enjoy the outdoor experience and the view year round.

The ground level of the hotel will also house a large convention meeting space, a bar and lounge, a business center and a workout facility.

Construction workers are laboriously hanging sheetrock at the moment, starting on the third floor and working their way down.

The spaces on the third floor clearly section off the bedroom, sitting room, closet space and the bathroom.

The main hotel is complemented by two smaller hotel buildings that were once the Ramada Inn Hilltop.

Both buildings are being completely gutted and refurbished on the inside, including wiring, carpeting and walls.

The main hotel building is cocked slightly to the side to allow for future connectivity to the smaller hotel on the bluff.

“It’s built with future expansion in mind,” Lee said.

All together, the three hotels will have 124 rooms.

The casino, which is anchored at the Natchez-Adams Port, is currently being worked on as well.

“Work on the boat is going good,” Lee said. “We have all the mechanical testing completed and everything is good there.”

Lee said the boat will begin to be outfitted and decorated soon.

It is estimated that the hotel and casino will collectively employ 400 people.

The red dirt that currently houses the heavy construction machinery and materials will be converted into green space.

An embankment will be placed on the bluff, which will replace the field of kudzu that spills along the incline.

The projected opening date for the hotel is September, with reservations to be taken starting the same month.

The casino will trail behind in its opening by between 60 and 90 days, Lee said.