NATCHEZ — The Magnolia Bluffs Casino metal building frame is quickly taking shape on the Roth Hill riverfront, and construction at the casino site is moving a few weeks ahead of schedule.

Glenn Bedford of FoxCor Construction Management said the casino building frame is approximately halfway finished and should be complete June 30.

The roofing for the building is scheduled to be completed by the end of July. The cypress siding should be on and the building weather-tight by Aug. 15

During the construction of the building, Bedford said contractors will be doing mechanical work including installation of electricity and the fire sprinkler system.

Concrete columns for the parking garage are being poured this week, and the garage should be finished sometime in June.

Work on underground utilities, including sewers and sanitation, Bedford said, started this week.

Bedford said casino developers are getting ready to award contracts for the interior work on the casino, which will include carpet, flooring and ceiling and wall finishes.

Bedford said developers solicited locally for bids for the work, and he said most of the bids came from companies in Jackson.

Premier Gaming Group President Kevin Preston said Tuesday at a meeting with the committee designing the Roth Hill city park that he was surprised at the number of people that come into the casino office seeking employment at the future casino.

“They are people who live here and also people who used to live here and want to move back to Natchez,” Preston said. “I think that says a lot about the community and the people. It makes us really realize why we do projects like this.”

Bedford said construction workers have not run into any major problems at the casino site, other than the occasional delay because of heavy rain. He said he does not anticipate any problem having construction complete in time for the Dec. 21 opening date.