The construction on the new Dragway in Concord is full speed ahead. Work started five weeks ago on the controversial drag strip near Lowe's Motor Speedway.
LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY -- The construction on the new Dragway in Concord is full speed ahead. Work started five weeks ago on the controversial drag strip near Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Friday, crews demonstrated how they are putting the facility together with 130,000 pound concrete walls.
Slow and steady, a crane lifted a concrete panel that will become the heart of the Dragway. “The panel that we just erected was 130,000 pound panel. Our biggest panel was 187,000 pounds,” said Tim Gay who works with Choate Construction. They used a 300-ton crawler crane to lift the panels.
Once the panel is airborne, crews on the ground walk alongside the 3.5 story wall. “The big braces, they weigh about 400 pounds a piece, they keep the panel in place and plum,” said Gay. The braces prop the walls up until the steel is put in place to hold it all together.
The pace of the construction has been high so far.
“The schedule is very high momentum and we all enjoy all the action,” said Gay.
Friday, crews demonstrated how they are putting the facility together with 130,000 pound concrete walls.
Crews already placed 14 of the walls and have 25 more to go before the center is done. “We're trying to put together a facility that would normally take 12-18 months together in six months,” said Stephen Swift who works with Speedway Motorsports Inc.
The grandstands are also taking shape and a pedestrian tunnel is starting to develop. There will be two pedestrian tunnels under the drag strip connecting the two sides of the Dragway. Because of so many days of good weather, construction is a few days ahead of schedule.
“In August hopefully we can turn it over and have a facility in to run September … we will be running in September,” said Swift.
The first event at the Dragway is scheduled for September 11. Tickets are on sale now for the NHRA Carolina Nationals at the Dragway. For information call 1-800-455-FANS.