Jamul Indian Casino ALREADY Causing Traffic Problems, Collisions..Outlook Bleak for Improvements

The JAMUL INDIAN VILLAGE casino and entertainment complex that drew the ire of neighbors in the East County opened to the public Monday and, combined with road construction, led to major traffic congestion on state Route 94.  Many accidents have occurred, with only the very slow speeds preventing fatalities. Is it Karma for the beatings and evictions it took to get the project underway?

CHP reported several crashes along SR-94 during the casino's opening day. A tow truck driver responding to a crash became stuck in the traffic along SR-94.

Traffic Jams delay
school pickups

Despite the casino creating a thousand job, critics said opening day's traffic troubles proves why they will continue to fight to close it down.

The $400 million Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego, around 20 miles east of downtown San Diego, on the property of the Jamul Indian Village, also includes a nightclub.  The tribe allowed the desecration of Native ancestor's graves for the project.

Area residents, led by county Supervisor Dianne Jacob, bitterly fought the development because they were concerned about traffic impacts on the semi- rural roadway in the area. She has criticized Caltrans for allowing the project to proceed.

"Caltrans is failing the public by allowing the casino to open without all the badly needed road improvements in place, which was a part of the agreement Caltrans reached with Jamul Indian Village in 2009," Jacob said.