Journal Staff
The $5.4-million athletic track under construction at Sarnia’s Great Lakes Secondary School won’t be completed this fall after all.
Unfavourable weather and shipment delays have set the timetable back until next spring at the earliest, said Brian McKay, business superintendent of the Lambton Kent District School Board.
“The trench drains and the steeplejack were significantly delayed due to supply chain issues caused by the current economic climate,” he said.
“These components must be properly installed before the asphalt can be laid.”
The eight-lane track and field facility — the board’s first artificial turf multi-sport field — will replace the East Street track facility that’s slated for demolition to make way for a new helipad at Bluewater Health.
Construction of the new track began in May and was slated to wrap up this fall.
McKay said the asphalt must cure for about four weeks before the rubber surface is installed, which then needs a steady temperature for about four days.
By that time, “the autumn temperatures will not be favourable to properly install the rubber,” he said, adding that the August heat wave also slowed construction.
“Due to the high temperatures many work days were cut short, delaying the progress of preparing the granular base and underground services.”