The 6,000 seat Velodrome, to be based in the North of the Olympic Park, will host the Olympic and Paralympic indoor track cycling events and will be one of the ‘Big 4’ permanent venues in the Olympic Park.

A contract notice inviting companies to bid to construct a permanent Velodrome for Games time and legacy was posted in May.

 

Following strong interest from the construction industry, the ODA today announced a shortlist of six companies for the Velodrome contract:

• Alfred McAlpine Major Projects
• Carillion Construction
• FCC Construccion
• ISG InteriorExterior
• Shepherd Construct Limited
• Wates

 

The chosen contractor to construct the Velodrome is expected to be announced in early 2008 and will then be joined by the winning Velodrome designers, announced in July as a team led by Hopkins Architects, to develop detailed designs before construction starts on site in early 2009.

David Higgins, chief executive of the ODA, said: "This is an opportunity for a major construction company to build a world-class Velodrome for the best athletes in the world and to leave a lasting legacy for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

"With a world-class design team already on board for the Velodrome and work progressing well on site, the announcement of such a high quality shortlist of construction companies keeps us on track to deliver a venue fit to stage the Games while also providing a landmark building for future generations to enjoy.'

A separate contract notice will follow at a later date to build a temporary BMX circuit in the Olympic Park to host Olympic BMX events.

After the Games, the BMX circuit will be repositioned next to the Velodrome with a road cycle circuit and mountain bike course added to create a legacy VeloPark that will be unique worldwide in combining cycling facilities across all disciplines in one cycling ‘hub’.

 

The VeloPark will also be connected to the Sustrans National Cycle Network, linking the new facilities into cycle routes across London.