HAMMOND | Thousands of cars are expected to jam the lakefront Saturday night as the city prepares for two popular events scheduled at the same time.
Multiplatinum-selling recording artists Smashing Pumpkins are making their only Chicago-area appearance at The Venue, Horseshoe Casino's new 2,500-seat concert hall.
Saturday also is National Marina Day, with daylong events culminating in the annual boat parade and fireworks of Venetian Night at the adjacent Hammond Marina.
And to further complicate the traffic situation, a long-running state highway improvement project is restricting lanes on Indianapolis Boulevard at the main entrance to both the casino and marina.
"I'll probably be riding my bike to work this weekend," said Milan Kruszynski, the marina director who lives in the Robertsdale section of the city.
Hammond Emergency Management Agency personnel will be out in force starting Friday, when Horseshoe begins the gala opening of its $500 million new casino with a sold-out performance by singer Bette Midler.
The casino has received city permission to open the gates at the railroad tracks in the 1100 block of Calumet Avenue on an "as-needed" basis, if the volume of visitors overwhelms the capacity of the Horseshoe Drive viaduct.
Construction trailers for the casino expansion still fill the marina's eastern parking lot, and Kruszynski said his office has been working with Horseshoe for the past six weeks on handling traffic.
The casino will use the far end of the city-owned parking lot just west of the marina for the overflow, Kruszynski said, and shuttles will carry visitors to their facility.
"They've been very understanding of our need for parking for Venetian Night and our marina boaters," Kruszynski said.
Marina Day festivities include an all-day beach volleyball tournament, a concert by local favorites History's End at 6 p.m., and fireworks at 9:15.
And next weekend is the Chicago Air and Water Show, an event which historically packs the Hammond Marina with boaters and beachgoers who want to watch without having to go downtown.
