Tara Jeffrey The long-delayed athletic track at Great Lakes Secondary School could be ready this spring — if the weather cooperates.
Tara Jeffrey
The long-delayed athletic track at Great Lakes Secondary School could be ready this spring — if the weather cooperates.
“Right now, we’re pushing for an early June completion date,” said Brian McKay, business superintendent for the Lambton Kent District School Board.
“So, if any track and field events are in June, the hope is to have the track finished.”
The $5.4-million project includes an eight-lane running track and the board’s first-ever artificial turf sports field. Work began nearly a year ago and it was to open last fall, but unfavourable weather and shipment delays impacted installation of the track’s synthetic rubber surface.
“The final track surface is a poured surface, so in order for it to cure, we need four to five days of nice, warm spring temperatures — at night as well,” McKay said, noting last week’s blast of winter was another setback.
“So that’s what we’re waiting for. That might happen in May.”
The new athletic track will replace the East Street track, which is slated for demolition to make way for a new helipad at Bluewater Health.
A recent Lambton County council update on the $900,000 helipad came with an expected completion date of August.
