Hard Rock Casino Bristol: traffic study to foresee impact of upcoming permanent venue expected by fall

To smooth down the potential impacts of the full-scale Hard Rock Casino & Resort project in Bristol, Virginia, a traffic study has been set into motion and is expected to be complete in the fall. The announcement comes as Hard Rock opened a temporary full-service casino on Friday, ahead of the permanent venue.

As a part of their ongoing expansion plans, the city’s interim director of Community Development and Planning, Jay Detrick, unveiled that Hard Rock hired an independent traffic analysis firm to study Gate City Highway and its surrounding routes and create a new Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) of the area, as reported by News Channel 11. 

“The best way to describe the TIA is as a blueprint for construction. Just as an architect will submit plans for a building, the TIA will act as plans for future road and infrastructure improvements," Detrick said. The full analysis will outline what the area should look like when the Hard Rock property is in full swing. 

Hard Rock's temporary casino in Bristol.

While waiting for the results, the city has already implemented several changes to tackle traffic issues that may arise for casino guests, such as the activation of the Gate City Highway/Catherine Street traffic light, as well as at the Osborne Street intersection; plans for new cameras and signal controllers; and the installation of new signs, among others.

Detrick also stated that the city will continue to monitor traffic in the area to make adjustments as needed. Given the fact that the route to the new casino is close to Interstate 81, he further said the Virginia Department of Transportation will also receive the results of the analysis. 

The city’s biggest use for the study will be for grant applications, and Detrick said hard data like the upcoming TIA is key when asking for improvement funds in the future. 

Opening ceremony for the temporary casino on Friday

Temporary full-service casino “Bristol Casino - Future Home of Hard Rock” celebrated Friday morning its grand opening, with a ceremony featuring Hard Rock executives and partners, state and local officials, local community members, and business and civic leaders. Hard Rock claims the venue will be an economic driver for Bristol, Virginia. 

The date included a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the first Virginia casino, with the signature Hard Rock guitar smashing slated for when the permanent casino opens. 

The temporary casino has 30,000 square feet of casino space featuring 870 slots, 21 tables, and a sportsbook, all open to the public 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The space includes a main casino floor as well as non-smoking and high-limit gaming areas.