Construction Cost: Track

I am not sure of the cost, but do not go with a cynder track. They may be cheaper to build, but the cost of chalk to mark the lanes and the need to have people out there smoking to keep it filled with ashes will eat you alive in the end.

Plus, picking out all the cig butts.

No, I'm referring to the more-or-less standard all-weather surfaces that you see at most colleges these days.

Jim,

I can't shed any light on the cost issue, but if the opportunity exists, look at building a shorter wider track (same 400m, but 80m straights, rather than the usual 100m). They have a track like this down at Stockton College in NJ and it's a joy to run on, VERY fast! (Not me, the track, on a good day, very fast is still pretty slow.) So, if it doesn't need to fit around a football field, you may wind up with the best track in the area.

Wayne

I believe when my high school's all weather track has just a small top layer added to it every 5-6 years it costs around $80,000. I'm not sure of the exact depth of this layer, but I believe it's somewhere between an eighth and a quarter of an inch. Now, obviously the per unit depth cost should go down as you get more of it, as there's a certain price just to get the equipment and everything to the site to do the job, but I think you'd also have to lay a base layer of pavement to add the all weather surface to. If I were to guess, I'd say somewhere around 500-600k for the whole deal. If I remember the next time I see my old coach I'll see if he knows how much the initial investment was.

Hi Jim!

I do this for a living and am probably familiar

with the site. What part of town? Whitesboro?

Track surfacing usually runs about 200,000 for surfacing,

24,000 for stone base, 65,000 for subsurface paving, another 25,000 for replacing topsoil, seeding and misc.

close to 400k after all is said and done. 500-600k would be a nice budget to get you a decent facility. Does not include engineering, permits, excavation(probably nil from what you are saying), and drainage( a HUGE #).

Let me know if you need drawings or something.

I'm often in the area.

Hi Chris! Geez Louise, I knew you were an architect but I didn't know that tracks were your cup of tea! Very cool! Please e-mail me and I'll let you in on all kinds of neat-o information (just remember to delete the anti-spam stuff from my e-mail address at left).

Wayne B wrote:

Jim,

I can't shed any light on the cost issue, but if the opportunity exists, look at building a shorter wider track (same 400m, but 80m straights, rather than the usual 100m). They have a track like this down at Stockton College in NJ and it's a joy to run on, VERY fast! (Not me, the track, on a good day, very fast is still pretty slow.) So, if it doesn't need to fit around a football field, you may wind up with the best track in the area.

Wayne

Oh, as a distance runner I hate those short staightaway long-rounding tracks. 100 meter straightaways feel the best.

When my HS got their track done (over a decade ago) I think it cost about $200,000. There was already a surface there, it was just the stuff they use for tennis courts so they just had to cover it and do some other minor things, nothing from the ground up or anything like that.

Jim, the figures by celeriter are pretty accurate for a simple facility. (in my opinion)

Things to ask yourself though are about drainage and surface. If you go with a simple surface like latex with a structural spray, you'll get a track that's high school ready. But the drainage is a major issue. What will you do with the inner surface?

The asphalt is the real issue though, and more importantly, making sure that it fits in to the 2% grade requirements. We had a lot of trouble getting a contractor to do our facility, because the college facility requirements are tougher.

I don't know why you'd beleive that wider turns would make it cheaper... Turns require more area for the distance, and area is not your friend.

Jim, for the record, we just finished out facility. We spent $2.5 million. But we went top notch with everything, surface, inner surface, drainage, and all.

Three years ago the university across town built a track, probably similar to what you're thinking of. It was literally a track, and nothing more. No "D" area, just 8 lanes. They tore it up a little while ago, because it didn't fit their needs. Make sure you're planning for the future too.

PDong wrote:

No "D" area, just 8 lanes.

What's a "D" area? Are you referring to the high jump area?

yes, most college facilties have the entire area as track surface, where as most high schools have a "high jump area"

People, in my opinion, don't realize how useful an open D area can be.

My school raised $1 million to cover for a football field, track, sheds, soccer field, the whole deal. It's probably the best in the area now.

Is the infield grass or synthetic? Is it an 8 lane track? Thanks.

For the sake of future generations who will use the track, don't skimp on the layers to save money. Running on an all-weather track that has just a thin layer of the rubber material is awful. It's just like running on concrete. There's no push back, spikes don't feel right, and it increases the likelihood of injuries.

So I'm just saying if you're going to do it, do it right. Six laps with good rubber is better than eight the cheap way.

You sound like you'd probably do it right anyhow, though.

For what it's worth, Bronxville, New York is building a new track and new athletic fields. The track portion (there is an existing one, but it's too small (4 lanes) will be $450,000, for 6-lanes. Donations of $1.7 million were made for the whole shebang.

Chris, just in case you tried to e-mail me, my service provider dumped a bunch of my e-mails over the past few days (I assume their anti-spam filter was a bit too agressive as it only dumped a portion of my incoming mail). Please try a resend.

This may involve both an indoor and an outdoor track.

Sounds like some of the prices quoted are for union jobs, which means double. No way does it cost $200,000 to resurface unless the job was a union job by the AD's brother in law.

Grading, stone, base, surface, lanes, rail, drainage system, underground conduits,aprons, stepple pit, lights, etc. all need to be factored in.