DETROIT - All the action was outside the Greektown Casino last week, as the building trades and the joint venture of Jenkins/Skanska started the process of expanding the existing structure of the gaming hall.

The project has moved into the next major phase, expanding the casino about 70 feet south into what is the median of Lafayette Street. Also ongoing at the site is the construction of the massive parking deck, a hotel, and the renovation of the old St. Mary's school house into casino offices.

Last week Hardhats were drilling caissons to support the new casino space, as well as pouring footings to support a retail area. Project Supt. Larry Zielinski said about 300 construction workers would toil on the job at peak employment.

"We haven't found much during the caisson drilling, only a lot of buried common brick from the 1800s," Zielinski said. "So far, nothing out of the ordinary."

The $475 million project includes a 25,000-square-foot expansion of the gaming hall (increasing the size to 100,000 square-feet), a 1,500-seat entertainment theater, meeting and convention room space, a spa and additional restaurants. The 400-room hotel and garage will connect to the casino via moving and elevated walkways.

A July 12 ceremony marked the start of construction on the expanded casino. "With this groundbreaking, we celebrate more jobs and revenues for Detroit and our state, the start of a magnificent new resort destination in the heart of Detroit, and additional resources to support programs and services for members of the Sault Tribe," said Aaron Payment, chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, owners of Greektown Casino.

Greektown Casino opened on Nov. 10, 2000. It has nearly 2,400 slot machines and 92 table games in 75,000 square feet of gaming space.

RODBUSTERS SINK re-rod cages for caissons that will support the expansion of the Greektown Casino in Detroit. The casino will be expanded about 70 feet into Lafayette Street, which is about where the the re-rod cages are in the foreground.

NEW FOOTINGS ARE installed behind the Greektown Casino, in an area fronted by Monroe Street, where retail shops will be located.