NATCHEZ — Construction crews are expected to finish all foundation work for the Roth Hill casino parking garage this weekend and are working on stabilization for the casino’s gaming floor that will be suspended over the river.

Project Manager Dennis McEvoy of FoxCor Construction said crews will finish installing pile caps this weekend on the concrete piles that stabilize the foundation of the 307-space garage.

McEvoy said the installation of the foundation is complete, and the pile caps will distribute the load of the building into the piles, which were driven 70 feet into the ground to stabilize the foundation of the 307-space parking garage.

Crews are also using an 18,000-pound diesel hammer to drive 70 steel beam outboard piles 110 feet into the river floor, McEvoy said. The piles should be finished in the next 10 days and will support the gaming floor and outdoor area of the casino that will be suspended over the water.

McEvoy said the diesel hammer, which has 60,000 pounds of force, is the loud banging noise local residents might hear coming from the site.

Crews should finishing driving the outboard piles in the next 10 days, McEvoy said, and will then begin cross-bracing work on the piles. The work involves straightening the piles then welding them together. Beams will be laid across the top of the piles to support the gaming floor.

After the piles are completed, McEvoy said pre-stressed concrete pieces will be placed on top of the piles for the gaming floor platform. He said the platform should be completed sometime in mid-May.

McEvoy said foundation surface work will be completed in May, and crews will begin constructing the pre-fabricated metal building sometime around May 13. He said it will take approximately six weeks to complete the frame and another five weeks to put on the roof. The building is scheduled to be finished around Aug. 18.

Crews will begin standing up columns and walls, as well as working on the deck for the parking garage next month. McEvoy said the parking garage should be completed before the casino building.

The high river levels and heavy rain of the past two months delayed construction somewhat, McEvoy said. He said some of the construction crew are staying in living quarters on the barge that is docked at the site and are working every day of the week.

The casino is scheduled to open Dec. 21, McEvoy said.

Casino developers are expected to appear before the Natchez Preservation and Planning commissions at their meetings on March 14 and March 15, respectively. The developers will present plans for lighting and landscaping at the site.