ISG Totty Building and Manchester Velodrome

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team May 9, 2007

ISG Totty Building has secured a high profile project with Manchester City Council to replace the worn cycle track at the world renowned Manchester Velodrome facility.

Sustained use of the popular track by both elite cyclists and amateur enthusiasts has led to the decision to replace the wooden track, some seven years ahead of schedule, in time to provide the best possible conditions for Great Britain's cyclists gearing up for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Work on replacing the track commences immediately following the Paralympic World Cup Cycling event in mid-May and is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Approximately 54,000 linear metres of specially imported Baltic Pine timber will be used to form the new track, with individual six metre long boards, each measuring 40mm X 40mm, all laid by hand.

ISG Totty Building will retain the existing truss supports below the track, fixing individual boards onto this structure at 600mm lengths.

The Baltic Pine species used for the track has been specially selected due to its exceptionally fine grain density, resulting from its slow natural growing conditions in the extreme northern hemisphere.

The timber is kiln dried before being transported to Manchester Velodrome three whole weeks prior to the commencement of construction work, in order to allow the wood to acclimatise to its new environment.

The project represents the latest scheme that ISG Totty Building has been awarded under its three year framework deal with the city council, and the contractor will be working closely with the British Cycling Federation to ensure the new track meets the strict tolerances required within this world class facility.

Philip Ryder, managing director of ISG Totty Building, commented: "Manchester Velodrome is the most heavily used facility of its type in the world and the track renewal programme represents an essential phase in the preparation of the nation's cyclists ahead of the Olympics next year and looking forward to London 2012".

"The velodrome has also become an integral community resource and ISG Totty Building is delighted to have secured such an important phase of work at this globally recognised centre of excellence.".