Community Corner
More Traffic Expected on 101 as New Casino Opens This Week
The Las Vegas-style casino will be the largest in all of Northern California, attracting up to 10,000 people each day.
Bay City News
The opening of a new tribal casino in Rohnert Park on Tuesday could snarl traffic throughout the North Bay this week, especially on U.S. Highway 101, police have warned.
The Graton Resort & Casino, located off of Golf course West outside Rohnert Park, will be completely open by Tuesday morning, and drivers should expect some increasing traffic as early as Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Petaluma police are warning drivers to allow extra time for traffic. Both police and the CHP plan to monitor and work to reduce any traffic issues in the area.
The $820 million casino includes 3,000 slot and video poker machines, 144 gaming tables and an 18-table non-smoking poker room, as well as high-limit slot machines and high-stakes private table game areas.
It also includes a food court, four full-service restaurant, and an events center with seating for 750 seated guests. There are 5,700 parking spaces outdoors or in a 5-level parking garage. The casino is expected to receive between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors daily.
The casino has been opposed at public hearings and in court since it was first planned 10 years ago for the Sears Point area of southern Sonoma County, then after strong opposition from environmentalists, at the Rohnert Park site.
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