Facelift underway for 2012 Olympic rowing venue

The improvements include a new 50m finish line bridge that stretches over a widened entrance to the return lane to allow for two-way car traffic and segregated pedestrian traffic. Another bridge is to be built over a new cut-through between the return lane and the competition lake. The current access road to the venue is also going to be upgraded.

Matt Smith, executive director of the International Rowing Federation, FISA, was at the venue to see the start of construction along with officials from the London 2012 Organising Committee.

The venue has already been used to host the 2006 World Rowing Championships and is also regularly used by the British national team as well as Eton College. The current construction is designed to tie into the rowing off-season. The 8-laned, 2,200m course is owned by Eton College and is completely manmade and includes a return lane plus all of the necessary competition facilities.

The construction phase should be completed by early 2010, ready for next year’s rowing season.