By Karen Caffarini, Post-Tribune correspondent
Already stung financially by the partial closure of Cline Avenue since Nov. 13, Ameristar Casino East Chicago is stressing the importance of keeping at least some lanes of the major arterial road open at all times as repairs are made. But the casino would not say if it would help foot the "very expensive" bill to do so.
"Those types of discussion are premature based on the latest information we have from INDOT," Peter Savage, senior vice president and general manager for the casino, said.
Savage also pointed out that keeping the major artery open to Northwest Indiana is important to a multitude of businesses, not just Ameristar. Horseshoe Hammond and the Majestic Star casinos and ArcelorMittal's steel-making facility and research office are also off of Cline. Phone calls to those businesses seeking comment were not returned.
In a report released last week, Bill Dittrich, state bridge inspection engineer, said the Cline Avenue bridge is so structurally deficient that it might be better to raze the bridge and build a new one than to make repairs, which Dittrich said would be very expensive and would lead to road closures for five to six years.
Dittrich said razing the bridge was one of 12 to 20 options presented by a consulting company, with a multimillion-dollar difference between the various options.
One possibility to pay for the repairs would be to create a tax increment financing district, which would use some of the state's portion of taxes generated in the area to help pay for the road costs, said Ed Feigenbaum, editor of Indiana Gaming Insight. He said casinos pay different taxes, including admissions, wagering and property taxes.
"Under a TIF District, you would say 'X' percentage of taxes would go to redo the road. It is a state road so it would be state tax money, not local," Feigenbaum said.
He conceded, however, that it might not be an easy sell with state lawmakers. "Sen. Luke Kenley, R- Noblesville, in the past has not been too favorable of TIF Districts taking money from one area to give to another area, say from Buffington Harbor to downtown Gary," Feigenbaum said. "I don't know if it would be the same if the money were spent on the road."
Feigenbaum said the future could be a tough road.