borgata was part of a major project in atlantic city nicknamed "the tunnel project", started around 1999. when steve wynn planned the le jardin in atlantic city, he wanted to connect a $330 million tunnel from the atlantic city expressway to the new resort, later named the atlantic city-brigantine connector, which would funnel incoming traffic off the atlantic city expressway into the city's marina district. this caused major controversy, as it would cut through a residential neighborhood; competitor donald trump sued wynn for it saying that it was a "driveway" to wynn's casino. the tunnel project did progress, even after le jardin was cancelled, and finally opened in 2001.