Major contractors chase £90m Commonwealth velodrome

Bam, Bovis Lend Lease and Sir Robert McAlpine are believed to be among the contractors chasing a £90m job to build a Velodrome and sports arena complex for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Commonwealth chiefs organised a contractors' open-day last week to outline construction plans for the Games.

The Velodrome and National Indoor Sporting Arena complex is the main sport-related job up for grabs. Most other events are being held at existing venues around the city.

One contractor said: "It looks like around five or six serious contenders for the velodrome and arena are emerging. Among those are Bam, Bovis and McAlpine, who are all very active in the area."

A Commonwealth Games spokesman said: "Both the Velodrome and National Indoor Sporting Arena are being tendered as one contract because they are next to each other and it makes sense for one contractor to do both."

The design contract for the actual cycling track has been awarded to German specialist Schurmann.

The biggest games contract is the £245m athlete's village, which is currently out to tender with a preferred bidder due to be announced in May.

Three consortia are in the running including a group headed by Broadway Malyan, which incl-udes Laing O'Rourke, Arup and New City Vision.

The group is up against rival teams headed by Davis Langdon and Mace.

Work on the Commonwealth Village involves the construction of accommodation for 8,000 athletes, which will provide a mixture of private and affordable homes after the games. Construction is due to begin in 2010.

German specialist Schurmann will design the actual cycling track.