OXFORD — Work on the casino is on schedule and the gambling facility is set to open in spring of 2012, a spokesman for Black Bear Development said.

Scott Smith, community development director for Black Bear, said workers will start erecting the frame in mid-November, if the weather is good.

About 40 people from N.S. Giles Foundations of Bangor, Ralph Rapid & Son Concrete of Paris and other firms were working on the site Wednesday.

The foundation has been built, and workers are filling in the base, Smith said. The storm water ponds along Route 26 have been dug and are partially lined. Large concrete storm water drainage pipes are stamped “Oxford Resort Casino.”

“It’s amazing how fast they’ve been able to work,” he said. According to Smith, by the end of the project around 400 workers will have contributed to the site.

A pile of loam about 50 feet high sits at the edge of the site. Smith said most will be used in site development, although some had been sold and some was donated to the town to build a new ball field at Pismo Beach.

Oxford is running water lines up Route 26 to the casino site, and a 500,000-gallon water reserve tank is under construction on the site as well.

The first phase of the casino will include a 65,000-square-foot building with a gaming floor, restaurants, a lounge and parking for 1,100 cars. It is expected to cost about $60 million.

Future phases, including expanded gaming, a hotel and conference center, are tentatively planned but will depend on the success of the first phase.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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