WASHINGTON — It’s an exciting week in Prince George’s County, Maryland, as the massive $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor casino resort is set to open to the public.
Doors open Thursday, and the region is bracing for an influx of traffic.
The weekly number of vehicles in the area is expected to double from 90,000 to 180,000, and backups are likely on Interstate 295 and on the Capital Beltway.
“We’ve done as much as we can at this point,” said Pete Rahn, Maryland’s secretary of transportation.
In preparation for the opening, the parent company that owns National Harbor and MGM announced plans earlier this year to spend about $10 million to widen roads, build turn lanes, add parking and adjust traffic signs and signals. There is also a new Metrobus service, called the NH2, which carries riders from Alexandria’s Huntington and King Street stations to National Harbor.
Although the new entertainment venue will create more traffic congestion, Rahn believes the economic benefits will make up for it.
“It’s going to be a tremendous asset to the local economy,” he said. “It’s going to be something worth some inconvenience for the drivers.”
MGM has hired about 4,000 people, and it is expected to attract 20,000 visitors every day.
