Using ground-breaking techniques, a 400 metres athletics track will be built that is six-and-a-half feet above the football pitch.

The first eight rows of seats at the National Stadium will disappear beneath the enormous steel structure and the capacity will be reduced from 52,000 in its football mode to 44,000 for athletics.

The work is due to be completed on May 16, little over two months before the Games are due to open on July 23. 

The track will then be dismantled and the Stadium returned to its football mode and is scheduled to reopen on November 30, meaning it will be out of action for more than a year. 

Hampden Park will be turned into a 44,000 capacity athletics stadium for the 2014 Commonwealth Games

The work is due to be overseen by Suzanne McCormack, architectural technologist who was involved in the construction of the Velodrome on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for London 2012.

"This has never been done before," she said.

"Steel stilts have been used for temporary 110m straight tracks in Newcastle and Manchester, as well as the ice rink in George Square and the equestrian course at the London Olympics - but it's completely new for a 400m track.

"It had to be approved by the International Association of Athletics Federation and we've carried out feasibility studies to make sure it works.

"We've built prototypes, tested them and, although there are known risks, we have mitigation plans in place.

"There is also a legacy attached to Hampden.

"We're upgrading facilities in the north and west stands, while a permanent new clubhouse will be built at Lesser Hampden and revert to Queen's Park.

"We're also generally improving the whole area."

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