Continual improvements for Lexmark Indy 300
The piecing together of one of Australia’s biggest event construction jigsaws is nearing completion on the Gold Coast as organizers count down the final nine days until the start of this year’s Lexmark Indy 300 event spectacular.
The temporary motor racing precinct is a massive undertaking within the Streets of Surfers Paradise. With continual improvements the construction and pack up over the last 10 years has decreased from 199 days to 100 days which is an amazing effort.
An initial glimpse of the overall set-up of this logistical and labor intensive project sees the 2007 precinct model boasting a greater plan to facilitate heavy pedestrian traffic during the fours days of the Lexmark Indy 300 carnival.
“Over the years the construction process has been fine-tuned and runs like clockwork to be fully operational on the Thursday of the event while ensuring as little impact as possible on local residents during the process," said Lexmark Indy 300 General Manager Greg Hooton.
“A comprehensive look at how we were doing things last year pinpointed a couple of areas within the precinct where bottlenecks of pedestrians were slowing crowd traffic as they moved to and from different areas of the circuit.
“We’re all about ensuring the event experience is an enjoyable one for everyone at the Lexmark Indy 300 and we’re certain a further opening up of public through-fares around Macintosh Island will prove a positive step for patrons.
“Everyone involved in the coordination of this year’s event is extremely excited as we count down the days to the start of the Lexmark Indy 300."
Specific to the 2007 plan has been a recognizable attempt to open up the rear pathway which winds its way north-south along the precinct behind the Champ Car pit area.
The visible movement of particular facilities including the Champ Car driver’s area and the event media centre have also been major considerations.
The slight restructure also sees the acquisition of more shaded rest areas throughout the precinct which will prove ideal for families with small children and similarly appreciated by all individuals.
The Lexmark Indy 300 is acclaimed internationally as a ‘crown jewel’ international motorsport event.
Similarly it is regarded as a leader in the design, construction and safety features of temporary street circuits, through the transformation of a thriving residential and commercial precinct into a motor racing circuit facilitating hundreds of thousands of fans and high speed racing.
The 4.47km circuit consists of 2515 concrete blocks which all weigh four tones each. In other interesting statistics, the circuit requires 10km of debris fencing, 16km of security fencing and nine temporary bridges. It is all constructed in a 100 day period , even though the inventory is three times what it was in the first year in 1991.
Gold Coast based engineering company Hyder Consulting has overseen the extensive building procedure since the first Event in 1991, annually reviewing, modifying and improving the plans to position the Lexmark Indy 300 as a world-leading circuit.
To facilitate the construction of the circuit, a traffic initiative introduced in 1999 will continue this year to reduce traffic delays.
As of 12.01am next Monday October 15 2007, traffic conditions change within the Precinct as follows:
- The Gold Coast Highway (Southbound) from Tedder Avenue to Elkhorn Avenue will be closed to all traffic from 12.01am on Monday 15 October until 4.00 pm on Monday 22 October 2007.
- The Gold Coast Highway will operate one lane of traffic in both directions from Cavill Avenue to Waterways Drive for the above period, with one lane of traffic. No right turns will be permitted over this length, with the exception of Admiralty Drive between the hours of 6.30 to 7.45 am.
- Access to this road between Enderley Avenue and Waterways Drive will be restricted to local traffic only. All other traffic must use alternate routes. Signs advising of the Alternative Routes available will be displayed at all major intersections in the area.