Developers: 92 Percent of Casino Traffic Will Come from Route 495

For the first time since the casino process started, Milford Selectmen and residents got solid numbers and answers from the developers.

Primarily among the numbers was the number 92. Scott Butera and other team members working on Foxwoods Massachusetts say that based on their traffic studies, 92 percent of the vehicles headed to the casino would be coming from the north or south on Route 495.

To mitigate this problem, developers have proposed adding collection and distribution lanes to the highway, similar to what a driver experiences on Route 495 in Mansfield near the Comcast Center exits.

The two extra lanes of travel would be added in each direction, creating one exit from the main highway that would funnel people to exits 19 and 20 in each direction. From those frontage roads, a new exit would be added leading drivers to the casino and Route 16.

Many of the residents in attendance questioned that number, including Selectmen Dino DeBartolomeis, prompting a response from Selectman William Buckley that the town's advisors would review the numbers and the methodology.

According to the developers, one percent of traffic would come from Route 16 eastbound, two percent would come from Route 16 westbound, three percent would come from Route 109, one percent would come from Route 85 and the remaining one percent would be local traffic.

The traffic studies said Route 16 through Milford would see an increase of 38 cars per hour during peak traffic times on a Friday night.

The presentation included details about water and sewage usage, both of which selectmen said would be reviewed by the town's advisors.

According to Butera, phase one will see the construction of a 660,000 square foot building consisting of 350 hotel rooms, more than 4,000 slot machines, 175 gaming tables, five restaurants, a ballroom and two parking garages.

The second phase will consist of an additional 350 hotel rooms, a third parking garage, another 1,200 slot machines and 65 more gaming tables.

"People think of this as a casino, but there's really much more," Butera said. "This will be a fully integrated resort community where gaming is one aspect."

Butera explained that the casino will sit on less than 10 percent of the total 187-acre property, allowing for much of the space to be used for active and passive outdoor recreation.

The facility itself will be located right next to Route 495, mirroring the location of Target, so that it is as far as possible from nearby residential areas. The power lines that currently run across the proposed site would diverted around the building to create an additional buffer between the resort and residential areas.