Construction work is well underway to enhance the venue’s existing facilities to provide improved facilities for athlete warm-up and Canoe Sprint events during the London 2012 Games. A key part of the enhancement works has now been completed with work to widen the entrance to the return lane finished and a new 50m bridge lifted into place.

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: 'Eton College Rowing Centre is a first-class venue and the enhancements we are delivering will create the best possible facilities for the world’s best athletes to use in 2012. Lifting a new bridge into the finish line area completes a key part of the enhancement works and keeps us on track to deliver improved facilities well before the Games begin in 2012.'

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: 'Dorney Lake is already a superb facility which will be further enhanced by this work. The widening of the return lane offers improved areas for athletes’ boats during warm up and cool down between races and the new bridge provides increased access to the finish line area which will be the centre of attention during the Games. This is a world class venue and it is exciting to see the enhanced facilities take shape.' 

Construction work on the enhanced facilities at the Eton College Rowing Centre began in September last year, starting with the demolition and removal of the venue’s original finish line area bridge and groundworks to widen the entrance to the return lane. With the widened entrance in place, the new 50m-span bridge, weighing 250 tonnes, has now been lifted into place using a 1200-tonne crane.

Further enhancement works are continuing on site, including the construction of a cut-through between the competition lake and the return lane with a new bridge over the cut-through, and the upgrade of the existing gravel/stone access road up to the competition venue for use during the Games. The Eton Dorney enhancement works are expected to be complete in spring 2010.

Notes to editors:

1.      Photos and timelapse footage of the bridge lift and construction works at Eton Dorney can be downloaded from http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?nav=pr132580586

2.      Eton College Rowing Centre regularly hosts elite level competition, including the 2006 World Rowing Championships, as well as being used as a training venue for Eton College, a venue for Canoe Sprint training and a rowing venue for clubs, triathlon events, hospitality events, and community leisure use.

3.      The enhancement works at Eton Dorney are being carried out by Morrison Construction.
 
 – Ends –
 
For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)20 3 2012 700.

The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency

Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog.