The tribe has been battling with the county for the left-turn lane since last summer--months before the casino was built--arguing that lack of it presents a safety hazard to motorists. The county had refused to issue the permit, pending a review by the state to define what the tribe should do to offset traffic problems from casino traffic.

After months of negotiating with the county for permission to build the turn lane, the tribe went ahead with casino construction in Decemberwithout it. Tribal and county officials have been trying to come to terms on this problem since the casino opened last month. The permitcame on the heels of an agreement with the Ricon that could provide the county up to $1.6 million for future road improvements.

The left-turn lane should be completed in about two months, just in time for the opening of more facilities that will double the size of thetribe's gaming operation. The expanded facilities, which includes a 22,000-sf building with 759 slots, a 27,000-sf tented area and four buildings totaling 13,000 sf, are scheduled to open prior to May 15, the state's deadline for making the tribe's total allotment of slot machines operational.