Footes Lane track turns blue
NOBODY was feeling blue at Footes Lane yesterday, as work on the new colourful track surfacing got under way.
There was a sneak peek at the latest upgrades to Footes Lane yesterday as contractors laid the layers of surface down ready for athletes to take to the track come October.
States’ technical consultant Phil Keeley said they were in the process of finishing the track.
‘It’s very weather dependent at the moment, but it’s going really well,’ he said.
‘We’re hoping to have it finished by the end of September with athletes using the track more or less as soon as it’s finished at the beginning of October.
‘The surface has a number of different layers on it, including the matt rubber granules, the liquid, and the top layer, which was produced in Germany and is IAAF certified.
‘Once the top blue crumble has been added on and dried and the excess blown off, the line markings will be done, which takes about 14 days – it’s like decorating your room and putting the finishing touches to it.’
A hundred tons of existing track surface was removed and transported to the UK for recycling and the existing spectator fencing was removed around five weeks ago. The timber fence next to the hockey pavilion has been relocated to enable the extension of the full 400m. track from six lanes to eight lanes.
Also all of the existing surface water gutters around the track have been removed and replaced with a better drainage system.
The colourful theme at Footes Lane will also continue with the addition of a new hammer and discus cage with a lime green floor and black surround, which will be added around mid-September.
‘This year has been phase one of the project,’ said States’ project service manager Sean Harvey.
‘Next year will be phase two and that will include improvements to the Garenne stand, such as an accessible viewing gallery and disabled toilets, plus landscaping.
‘This will advance the island for the Island Games in Guernsey in 2021.’
A camera has been catching all the work being completed at the track, with time-lapse footage due to be uploaded once it has all been completed on the Footes Lane Facebook page.
The project, including maintenance works and professional fees and other fees, has a cost of £950,000 and completion is scheduled to be at the end of September.
