The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office has issued an alert to local summer residents that the construction for the proposed casino resort project near state route 17, exit 106, is about to ramp up.

The Town of Thompson has officially closed Joyland Road to pedestrian traffic and the Sheriff’s office will begin enforcing the closure over the next 2 weeks. Undersheriff Eric Chaboty said the $1.2 billion project will begin with the installation of a sewer line starting this week. Then, in two weeks, as many as 200 trucks per day will travel Joyland Road making it extremely dangerous for people to walk the road.

The Town and the resort developer have come up with an alternate route for people to walk. Residents are asked to use Lorraine Drive to Towner Road and then Cimmaron Road, where there is less vehicular traffic. If one needs to travel to another location on Joyland Road, residents are asked to walk inside the bungalow colony rather than on the road.

The Sheriff’s Office also requests that cars not associated with the bungalow colonies on Joyland Road avoid the area completely.

“There is a chance that when the construction traffic begins, a motorist could be stuck while the trucks wait to enter the site”, said Undersheriff Eric Chaboty.

“Your best bet is to take another route”. The Sheriff’s Office will be meeting with residents this weekend to explain the closure and seek cooperation.

“This is a project that will have a major economic impact on Sullivan County”, said the Undersheriff.

“We want to proceed as safely as possible”.

(YWN Sullivan County Newsroom)