Gambling credited with bringing freeway improvements in Chicago

Monday, July 17, 2000 | 9:44 a.m.

But local officials acknowledge that casinos helped provide the cash - and the extra traffic - that landed the road project.

"It is what it is. If you're going to the Gary boats from Chicago, you're probably going on the Skyway. And we know people are coming to Gary for the boats," said Gary Mayor Scott King.

Since the first casinos opened in 1995, the Skyway has seen revenues from passenger cars nearly double, according to Chicago records.

Between half and 80 percent of casino customers come from Illinois, casino officials said. Most use the Skyway.

"It's a two-fold benefit. The Skyway's getting the benefit of people coming here, and we're going to get the benefit of a better Skyway." King said.

The Skyway started to see an increase in use starting in 1996, when the casinos arrived on the Gary, East Chicago, Hammond and Michigan City lakeshores. Since then, use has risen steadily each year.

The Skyway isn't the only road to cash in. Other highways in the area are seeing improvements too.

"When we came here my impression was the cities were somewhat behind on keeping up the infrastructure," said Monica Kaesley, a spokeswoman for the Empress in Hammond. "I think that the cities in Northwest Indiana are very wise to use the funding for infrastructure and not payroll."

Casino officials expect some of their success to rub off on other businesses. The Skyway improvements will help bring more people from Chicago to Indiana merchants.

"Anytime you have a major investment in renovation of a roadway that allows cars to have better access, it will be an advantage to businesses that are located directly off of that pathway," said Shawn Platt, a spokesman for Harrah's in East Chicago.

In May alone, $284,379 went to Gary from its two casinos. Lake County received $746,527 from its four boats. Hammond's budget has nearly doubled, thanks to casino money.

Repairing roads and sidewalks has been one of the most popular uses for the extra cash.

"After we're here another five or six years, almost all the streets could be done," Kaesley said.