Football shall only return to Belo Horizonte in March 2011. This is the new forecast as to the completion of the refurbishment of the Independência Stadium. The natural replacement for the Mineirão, which has already been closed for refurbishment since the World Cup in South Africa, the Raimundo Sampaio stadium shall only be able to host the games of the big Minas Gerais clubs as from next year.
The completion of this work was planned for August and then November of this year (please read more). However, according to the Secretary for Works of the State of Minas Gerais, this is the last change, and the time frame is now definite. “We are not considering any changes to this schedule”, he says.
Mr Fleury explains that the first delay occurred due to the heavy rains that devastated Belo Horizonte at the start of the year. However, what called this new significant delay was a change made to the original plan for the refurbishment.
Changes to the Project
“We have started with the base project developed by América Mineiro and which was presented to the Federal Savings Bank (Caixa Econômica Federal). After the tender, we have hired later executive projects, which are developed during the work. This is a common project. When we demolished the stands, we noticed that there would be a need for greater contention measures”, he explained.
The Independência Stadium lies in an urban area, surrounded by streets and houses. Mr Fleury says that, in the past, the stands went down like a ramp, following the site towards the field. For the refurbishment work, this was demolished and the soil was removed, which caused a significant difference in level between the field and the street.
“The state decided to make more conservative containments than originally planned, so that we would have no risk in the future. This work is ready, but this effort meant a longer time frame and also more resources”, he said.
The changes in the project meant a need to resubmit the project to the Federal Savings Bank, which has meant a new assessment and also a delay in transferring the funds. “The contract was signed between the State and the Federal Government for a value of R$ 46 million (€ 20.36 million). We do not as yet have an exact idea about what the difference will be, but whatever sum surpasses this value shall be covered by the State of Minas Gerais”, the secretary said.
The Current Situation
As the work makes use of prefabricated elements, some processes were simultaneous, such as the foundations and also the manufacture of the premoulded elements. Mr. Fleury explains that the foundations are already nearing completion, and currently have 70% of the process completed. “Now we have this new schedule. The premoulded components shall start to be erected at the beginning of September. This process takes five months. This means that in February we shall need to do the finishing, so that the stadium may be ready in March”, he said.
The Secretary also states that, at the same time, the final cabling projects are being executed, as also electricity, connections, turnstiles and other finishing work, this being a process which in no way interferes with the progress of the work.
Segments of the Public
The case of the Independência Stadium is like that of the Arena do Jacaré, which shall spend the next few years being managed by the Stadium Administration Company of the State of Minas Gerais (Ademg). So that the stadiums could qualify to receive public funds for their refurbishment, the owner clubs have transferred the management of these stadiums to the state, based on a loan for use scheme.
The Arena do Jacaré, which has state funds only, shall return to local club Democrata de Sete Lagoas in ten years. The Independência, which has both state and federal funds, shall go back to América Mineiro in 20 years, as from the date of completion of the work.
highlights
12/01 | News
