MARTINSVILLE, Va. (November 17, 2010) – It didn’t take long for the construction crews to invade Martinsville Speedway after the completion of the TUMS Fast Relief 500 and less than a month later, work on new restrooms and concession stands at the first-turn end of the front stretch is in high gear.
Old restrooms and concession stands have been demolished, debris cleared and excavation begun to pour the concrete foundation. The target finish date for the project is March 1, well before the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3.
“I think fans are going to be really pleased what they see when they come back in April,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “The restrooms and concession stands in that area are going to be larger, modern and much more efficient than what we had in the past.”
The new restrooms and concession stands have been moved back about 25 feet and are actually being built in the superstructure of the grandstands at the end of the frontstretch to help expand the concourse area under the grandstands.
“We’ve just about doubled the space under the grandstands in that area, which will make it much easier for fans to move about,” said Campbell.
The current project is part of a multi-phase effort that will result in most of the restrooms and concession stands along the frontstretch being replaced. It is being funded by a Virginia Tobacco Commission grant of $1.5 million, which is being matched by Martinsville Speedway.
The present project includes men and women’s restrooms, which double the size of the ones they replace. Every effort was made to include amenities and improvements requested by fans, like more sinks in the ladies restrooms and larger stalls. All of the new buildings meet ADA requirements.
“This first phase will be completed before our April race, but when the entire project is completed in a couple of years, our restrooms and concession stands will be on par with those at any sporting venues,” said Campbell. “In the end, it’s all about giving fans the best possible experience.”
There are about 15 subcontractors involved in the project, according to Rick Magee, Executive Vice-President of Frith Construction, the general contractor for the construction. All but one of those subcontractors is from the Martinsville and Henry County area, Magee said. About 50 jobs were created by the project with about 25 workers onsite at any given time, according to Frith.
