The track surface in Redwood Bowl has been experiencing increasing maintenance and repair issues. While these types of issues have been frequent in recent years, this winter has been particularly hard on the track surface, which has outlived its useful life and now requires replacement.
Replacing the track begins with the campus developing a replacement plan and permitting the design. Then the project must undergo a competitive bidding process. The design work is set to begin prior to the end of the semester, however, due to the amount of time this phase takes along with the required amount of time for construction, the work will not be completed by the summer 2016 construction season.
In the meantime, interim repairs will be made to the track to extend its life by one year. The track’s condition is constantly changing depending upon usage and weather. As a result, more restrictive use guidelines or temporary closures may be necessary to carry out repairs required to ensure the facility remains useable and safe.
The track will remain open to the campus, HSU Intercollegiate Athletics, and the community, but with the closure of lanes 1-3, which are the most heavily damaged. This will affect the campus and local community in various ways, including:
- General University Use: In general, use will be restricted to lanes 4, 5, and 6. HSU Grounds Crew will set up barricades restricting access to lanes 1, 2, and 3 as these are the lanes in the worst condition. Facilities Management will regularly inspect conditions and correct any barricade placement as needed.
- HSU Athletics Use: Intercollegiate Athletics teams will have use of lanes 1, 2, and 3 one day per week.
- Use by Arcata High School: AHS will have access to to lanes 4, 5, and 6. In addition, track practice will occur two days per week (Mondays and Thursdays beginning the week of February 29th) through the end of the high school track season.
- Use by the General Public: Members of the public will continue to have access to Redwood Bowl and the track, however, use will be restricted to lanes 4-6 as noted above.
Please send questions or comments to Traci Ferdolage at traci.ferdolage@humboldt.edu or 707.826.3646.