GC Foster track renovation faces fresh delay and rising costs

Renovation work on the track at GC Foster College has hit another delay, with the project now over budget and school officials appealing for government support as the hurricane season approaches.

The track project had been expected to begin in January, but an earlier setback involved getting materials cleared from the wharf. Those supplies have since arrived at the St. Catherine institution, but the German team from Regupol, the company contracted for the resurfacing, has again left Jamaica.

GC Foster College sporting director Chester McCarthy said the contractors chose to pause the work after reviewing rain forecasts for May. He said the concern was that pressing ahead in poor weather could affect the quality of the overlay. The team is now expected to return near the end of June or in early July to finish the resurfacing.

McCarthy said some work has already been completed. The major damaged sections of the track were cut out and patched, while the D section near the long jump pit has been finished, leaving that area looking newly laid.

However, he said the timing is worrying, as the June-to-November hurricane season could bring more bad weather and further disruption. McCarthy also noted that recent days have been dry and sunny, meaning a useful stretch of good weather has passed while the team was out of the country.

The delays have also pushed costs beyond the original budget, which was about $80 million. McCarthy said invoices are still coming in, including an updated bill linked to containers for more than US$3,000.

He said he and the college principal have been discussing the pressure on the project and that the institution needs financial assistance. McCarthy said the track is important not only to GC Foster College but to Jamaica's wider athletics programme.

The closure has already affected meets. The INSPORTS Central Primary Championship meet held earlier this month had to be moved to the National Stadium. The Police National Athletics Championship, scheduled for May 29 and 30, will also need another venue.

The GC Foster College track was first installed in 1998 and was relaid in 2015.