Mineirão: cover begins to be mounted

About 500 components of the cover metallic structure are already getting to the construction site of the Mineirão Stadium, in Belo Horizonte. Once assembled, the tubular steel trusses will receive a translucent, self-cleaning membrane on their top. The titanium dioxide material allows better passage of natural light and offers greater resistance to weathering, besides being more economical.

The structure of the current cover will be expanded by 26 meters with the installation of the trusses to protect the seats closest to the lawn. The project of the new cover was designed by the company Engeserj, owned by professors from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). The trusses are made in the USA, as those used in the Durban stadium, in South Africa.

The reinforcement work of the current structure was started in October 2011. At this stage, the structure which today receives the tie rods was built, which are traction cables made to support the weight of the cover. These cables are tensioned to a force of 5 million kilograms-force (equivalent to 5000 tons), which required a reinforcement in the stadium foundation.

The work will be performed by about one hundred skilled workers, including professionals with training in mountaineering. This stage is expected to end in November this year. "It will be a new cover made of lightweight, sturdy and cost-effective material, using standardized tubes offered by the market, without the need of having to manufacture them, for example, in metallurgy," the operations manager of the work José Severiano Braga da Silva concluded.

Two thousand workers
This week, the work reached the maximum peak of workers, with 2,000 workers in the field, and the mark of 58% of work completed. About 80% of the terrace parts have been installed around the façade, which has been 100% treated. Inside, 30% of the lower bleachers are installed and 80% of bars and bathrooms have received finishing (plaster and floor) with installation of benches and granite partitions (50%).

The installation of the new security gap is also in the final phase, with 90% of execution. The activities of electrical, water and drainage infrastructure are still ongoing, as well as implementation of the terrace and indoor parking floors. Three matches will be played in the new stadium during the Confederations Cup, in 2013, and six matches in the 2014 World Cup (four in the first round, one in the round of 16 and another in the semi-finals).