KINGSTON, Jamaica – Work is set to begin next month on a new running track for the G C Foster College of Physical Education and Sport in St Catherine.

General Manager of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), Denzil Wilks made the disclosure recently.

“We are now finalising the contract and we are expected to begin work by mid- February,” he said.

The SDF head also informed that the new track, which has been contracted to the German company Berleburger Schaumstoffwerk, will cost some $168 million and should be completed by early May.

He explained that the contract will involve construction of a protective base.

“The base that is laid and for which the track will be placed is absolutely critical and that is dependent on the nature of the surface. In the case of G C Foster, what you have is a clay surface that tends to expand when wet and contract when dry, and so you cannot have a track, which is laid on a base that will do that, hence a protective base will have to be built to protect the track,” he outlined.

Work will also include the installation of a drainage system as well as surface conditioning.

The new track is set to receive Level II International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) certification when completed.

 “We expect that it (the track) will give us excellent service for a minimum of

10 years,” Wilks said.